 My Ice-Skating Memoirs: A Nostalgic Journey Through Rinks, Memories, and Time Today, a photograph transported me back in time—a candid shot of my grandpa, brother, and me at one of my skating lessons. It was a sweet reminder of those formative years when the ice rink was not just a venue but a second home. My grandpa had come to watch me skate, and that moment sparked a wave of nostalgia that had me Googling the ice rinks of my youth and looking up old photos. Those rinks were more than just buildings; they were the backdrop to my childhood, a reflection of an ice-skating family’s dedication and love for the sport.  1. The picture that sparked the memory — a snapshot of skating days with my brother and Grandpa outside the West Covina Ice Arena, ca. 1981-1982 The Early Years: Skates and Figure Eights I started skating in the very early 1970s, officially beginning lessons at the age of 5. For nearly a decade, the rink was my playground, classroom, and stage. From the painstaking perfection of figure eights to the exhilaration of free skate sessions, the ice demanded discipline and grace. Practices often began at the crack of dawn. Sometimes, I found myself practicing figure eights not on ice but on a peculiar surface made of plastic patches designed to mimic it. It was rigorous, sometimes draining, and always a little surreal. Those mornings were not just about learning to skate but about developing a resilience that stays with me even today. Our family was deeply entrenched in the skating world. My mom had been an avid skater since childhood, performing in shows well into adulthood. My sister, the natural performer, was a showstopper in both competitions and ice shows. While she left the sport by 12, her brief career was marked with dazzling spins and theatrical flair.
The Rinks That Built My World The Los Angeles area of the 1970s and 1980s was home to an array of iconic ice rinks, but 4 were our rink-hop rinks, Pickwick Ice Rink, Culver City Ice Arena, West Covina Ice Arena, and the Santa Monica Ice Capades Chalet, depending on factors like my mom’s rehearsal schedule, the rinks’ operating hours, or which skating friends she planned to meet up with. Each one holds a special place in my memory, as well as a few others:
Each rink had its quirks and culture, from the cozy coffee shops where parents waited to the bustling energy of rehearsals and free skates. My dad, for instance, spent hours in the coffee shop adjoining West Covina Ice Arena, patiently waiting while I practiced during my later years. A Skating Family’s Life As an ice-skating family, we lived by the rink’s rhythms. My mom, always connected with the skating community, often practiced after hours, long after the rink had closed. The early days were spent with my brother and I roaming around the rinks ALL day. We knew everyone at the rinks, and everyone knew us, so we always had others looking out for us. That was the 70s for you. I sometimes slept in the car during these late-night sessions, though I vividly recall a scary moment when a stranger peered into the window. These were sacrifices we made as part of the sport’s demanding culture. I met fascinating people through the rink, including skating legends like Dorothy Hamill, at the Pickwick Rink, who once gifted me her Barbie doll modeled after her Olympic triumph in 1976; the actor Peter Falk, who played as Columbo, at the Santa Monica Rink and for some reason was dressed in his famous coat and giving us his Columbo routine; Peggy Flemming; and many more. Encounters like these brought the magic of skating alive. The Decision to Step Away By the time I reached 13, the grind of skating had begun to wear on me. The hours of practice left little room for fun, and I longed for time to spend with friends. When I told my mom I wanted to stop, her disappointment was unmistakable. Skating had been such a central part of her life and ours that stepping away felt monumental. But it was the right decision for me.
A Legacy on Ice My mom continued skating long after we had grown up, performing in shows at the Pasadena Ice Skating Center. Her dedication was a testament to the lifelong joy that skating brought her. Reflecting on those years, I see skating as more than a sport. It was a tapestry woven with memories of family, discipline, and the pure magic of gliding across the ice. The rinks, now lost to time or transformed, remain alive in my heart—a frozen piece of my history, preserved forever. Closing Thoughts Whether you grew up skating or simply watching from the stands, the rink has a way of bringing people together. It’s a place of camaraderie, creativity, and countless stories. For me, those stories are etched into the ice, a legacy of a childhood spent in motion and a family that lived to skate. Image Descriptions
©Diane Henriks #nostalgia,#nostalgicmemories,#1970s,#1980s,#iceskating,#Genealogy,#familyhistory
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 Nostalgic Memories: Memorable 1970s TV Commercials Nostalgic Memories #3: Memorable 1970s TV Commercials Remember when commercials had catchy tunes that you just couldn’t get out of your head, memorable plots that reeled you in, or well-known stars that hooked you, along with being memorable no matter the age? This is the third in a series of nostalgic memories that include TV shows, commercials, toys, and more, as I remember them, while writing my memoirs as part of my family history. The second was Nostalgic Memories #2: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows. I have been in the process of trying to write my memoirs, and in doing so, I have come up with tons of memories from every decade, which I thought would be fun to share. These brought back tons of nostalgic memories, and maybe they will bring back some for you as well. My Most Memorable Commercials of the 70s I remember tons of commercials from the 70s, but these are the most memorable ones that I still remember quite well to this day. They include links that will take you to some of the ones I watched during that time. See how many you remember!  Band-Aid 1970s TV Commercials
 Oscar Mayer Bologna 1970s TV Commercials  9-Lives (Morris the Cat) 1970s TV Commercials
 Charmin (Mr. Whipple, "Don't squeeze the Charmin") 1970s TV Commercials  Tootsie Roll Pop 1970s TV Commercial
 Life Cereal ("Hey Mikey!") 1970s TV Commercial  Fritos 1970s TV Commercial
 Hershey’s Syrup (Messy Marvin Debut) 1970s TV Commercials  Meow Mix 1970s TV Commercials  Nostalgic Memories: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows Nostalgic Memories #2: Early 1970s Kid’s Animated TV Shows This is the second in a series of nostalgic memories that include TV shows, commercials, toys, and more, as I remember them, while writing my memoirs as part of my family history. The first was Nostalgic Memories #1: Early 1970s Kid’s TV Shows. I have been in the process of trying to write my memoirs, and in doing so, I have come up with tons of memories from every decade, which I thought would be fun to share. I spent a couple of years living with my grandma when I was between the ages of 3-5, and while jotting down my memories of my time with her, I also remembered some of the TV shows I watched during that time. This brought back tons of nostalgic memories, and maybe it will bring back some for you as well. My Early 1970s (Pre-Elementary School) Children's Cartoon Line UpBelieve it or not, with this long list, at this age, I wasn’t into cartoons as much as I was educational shows, but these are all the ones I remember watching before I started kindergarten. They include links that will take you to either episodes or opening songs of the ones I would have watched during that time, along with their air dates and some rerun dates.
And The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie (ABC)/The New Saturday Superstar Movie (1972-1973) (included pilots for new shows) *Many of these can be found on Amazon Prime, as well as YouTube. Remember any of these? I'd love to know!  Early 1970s Kid’s TV Shows Nostalgic Memories #1: Early 1970s Kid’s TV ShowsThis is the first in a series of nostalgic memories that include TV shows, commercials, toys, and more, as I remember them, while writing my memoir as part of my family history. I have been in the process of trying to write my memoir, and in doing so, I have come up with tons of memories from every decade, which I thought would be fun to share. I spent a couple of years living with my grandma when I was between the ages of 3-5, and while jotting down my memories of my time with her, I also remembered some of the TV shows I watched during that time. This brought back tons of nostalgic memories, and maybe it will bring back some for you as well. My Early 1970s Children’s TV Show Line Up (Pre-Elementary School)Below are the shows I watched (pre-elementary school) with links that will take you to either episodes or opening songs of the ones I would have watched during that time, along with their air dates and some rerun dates.
*Many of these can be found on Amazon Prime, as well as YouTube. Remember any of these? I'd love to know!
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Know Who Wears the Genes in Your Family: Family History and Genealogy BlogI hope my family history and genealogy blog on genealogy research tips, resources, events, and more, along with my own genealogy journeys, will help you in your research and in building your family tree to learn more about your ancestors and family history to preserve for future generations to come! Categories
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