Prince George, you've let me down.
All year, I have been waiting for the start of something amazing: curling season. Our team usually curls in the Sunday morning curling league but, this year, only our team and one other ended up signing up for the early morning league.
Where were you curlers of Prince George? Why have you forsaken us? What did we do?
I can only surmise that our keen sense of humour and marginally improving skills on the sheet have scared our former league mates away. But I thought we had fun? Our mortal curling enemies have folded in the wake of our might.
Alas, our enemies wept in their sorrow and then we laughed a colossal laugh at our occasional win. Not really.
More to the point, we actually had loads of fun last season and many of the teams decided to either take a break or move to the evening beer leagues or more competitive leagues leaving just two teams to battle it out on Sunday morning.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that my husband will be performing the Theatre Northwest production of It's a Wonderful Life we weren't able to switch to the evening league until after December.
So here we are, curling-deprived and sad about it. We are hearing that the beginner's lessons have been popular so we are hopeful that the new crew will plump out the available curlers and we can soon go back to our lazy Sunday league.
Everyone should curl and here are a few reasons why:
It's fun.
While curling, you are exercising, unless you are the skip and then you just stand at the button being bossy and cold.
It is deceptively challenging, particularly when everyone on your team are beginners and no one knows what to do.
It is customary to drink beer after (or during) a game.
You learn new facets about the game every time you are on the ice (i.e. consistently throwing the rock over the hog line is a good place to start).
The likelihood that you will slip on the ice makes sweeping feel like you are thwarting danger at every turn.
You laugh all the time and that is good for the soul.
If you are bored and sick of winter, slap on a toque and get on the ice. Come play.
I am hopeful that curling will work out in the new year. Until that time, we are keeping in tip top curling shape, practicing our lunges and throwing faux rocks across the hallway.
