Smells and Bells

Playlist I made for this post: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3WGxkB9qFM5sEUxroq4nzj?si=qNXZiTpQSDqtnVoJd1Xixg I walk into the gym and the smell hits me, and I am overcome by a jarring familiarity. It is sweet and makes me feel warm, and for a brief moment I close my eyes, and breathe in deep through my nose. Suddenly I am 8 years old again, speeding around that dingy rink in a small Florida town. I can see it all, how grimy and dark it is, how the air was thick with sweat and old shoes. And I can see how beautiful it looked illuminated by those cheap neon lights. Every Sunday I had classes there in the under bright fluorescents that buzzed in the background of each rollerskating. I loved roller skating, I was all about it, career choice #1 from the ages of 7-9 (besides boxer, or artist, or architect, of course. I like to keep my options open!) and the rink had become my classroom. But Friday nights were a whole different story. Fridays and Saturdays were when the rink would be boo...