A Change Of Seasons

Fall is finally here, and many of us are breathing a collective sigh of relief. Parts of the U.S. suffered from unbearable temperatures related to high heat and humidity, while others were left to contend with extreme drought conditions. The promise of Fall brings cooler evenings, shorter days, and the need for warmer clothing. Reluctantly, it is time to put away our Summer clothes, cover over our swimming pools, and pick the last of the Summer tomatoes from the vines. Faded are our memories of outdoor barbecues, lazy weekend afternoons in backyard hammocks, bathing suits, beach balls, watermelons, and corn on the cob.

We approach the time of year when we are more concerned about our supply of firewood then how much chilled iced tea we have in our refrigerators, how to make pumpkin pies instead of apple pies, and raking leaves instead of grass clippings. Our thoughts go from servicing our air conditioners to winterizing our homes, cars, boats, and our garden machinery. As we prepare to put our lesser-used items to sleep for the Winter, these crisp, cool mornings seem to excite us and prepare us for what lies ahead. And no, I'm not talking about football, although I'm sure that there are those among us who are quite anxious for the NFL season to begin.

I am, however, talking about the start of the 2000-2001 figure skating season. I have been in serious withdrawal since the 1999-2000 season ended on May 13, 2000 when the Hershey's Kisses Figure Skating Challenge aired on ABC. I am comforted in knowing that relief is soon on the horizon. The 2000-2001 international figure skating season will begin in Colorado Springs, Colorado with Skate America 2000 on October 26 - 29. Additional information can be obtained by visiting http://www.usfsa.org/events/200001/skate... .

The start of the new season promises to be as exciting and entertaining as years past. After a brief hiatus, the athletes have been hard at work putting in countless hours of training, thus preparing their bodies for the rigors of competition. Ours is a unique sport which blends strength, flexibility, physics, and athleticism to creativity, music, and artistic expression. As a result, these elements come together to produce some of the most amazing displays of power and grace. I can not wait to see who has perfected their "quad" jump, and who will be brave enough to include it in their programs. I wish all the athletes the best, hope that they remain injury-free, and may their dreams come true.

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