On top of the world

Seaweed Snacks

The exhibition was a success! Katya and I were able to perform our programs perfectly even with the spotlight glaring down on us, which used to distract me in past shows. After we finished skating and took off our skates, my mom came into the locker room while pushing the stroller with Masha inside. "Aww, what a cutie!" everyone in the locker room gushed. Masha held two wrapped skate shaped chocolate pops.

"One for Lyuba, one for Katta!" she said, holding them out.

"Ahh,  спасибі маля (spo-seh-bi mal-ya, thank you baby)!" Katya and I opened them up immediately and bit into them.

I packed everything up to leave and met Bessie and Árni outside in the lobby. "You were so good!" Bessie exclaimed as she came to hug me.

"I got tired just trying to keep up with all the jumps you were doing!" Árni admitted.

I sighed and gave them both a solemn look. "Guys..." I started, "...this is one of the last times all three of us will be together like this. I--I'm scared for the future, honestly," I admitted, reaching out to both of them for a group hug.

"I'm sure I'll come back someday," Árni said, but even he seemed uncertain.

"Guys, don't make me cry," Bessie whispered.

"I guess we'll just have to spend the last couple days of school like they're actually going to be our last days together." I finally let go of them after what seemed to be just short of an eternity, which was still not long enough for any of us.

*********************************

June 2013

On the last day of school for me, which was three days before the actual last day of school, I spent lunch time going around to sign my friends' yearbooks and to have them sign mine.

Árni wrote me a short and sweet note saying how far he expects me to go in life, while Bessie wrote me a very long and dramatic essay about how much despair she will be in while I'm in Toronto for a whole month, and she wanted to make sure that I FaceTime her every day for at least a half hour. I also went around to my other friends to write them notes. Other classmates who I was merely acquainted with wanted to simply sign their names in my yearbook, and in return, I signed their yearbook as well while including the infamous "HAGS!" (Have a great summer!) Árni and Bessie also made sure to tell everyone who received my signature to keep that yearbook because I might become famous and go to the Olympics one day; I simply laughed it off.

*********************************

Finally, Katya and I were headed to Toronto! We sat together and watched Rise of the Guardians on my portable DVD player during the flight. Masha and Yuri were being fussy and constantly interrupting the conversations between our parents.

I had packed a lot for the trip. Luckily, we would have access to laundry, so I packed 3 sets of training clothes, 4 sets of casual clothes, and 1 set of slightly formal clothes in case we decide to eat out at a fancy restaurant one day. I also had a swimsuit and goggles. Of course, I also had to bring Simba and Tina because I could not sleep without them. But Katya had to pack everything. We had helped her family with moving out, and I think that helped me to gain even more arm muscles and upper body strength, which I'm sure will help me to rotate faster and help me complete the triple Lutz and the triple Axel someday real soon!

Mom also informed me of another surprise: she signed me up for a small inter club competition that would take place in the Toronto Cricket Club ice rink. She had found out that summer camp skaters could sign up to compete as well. Katya and her family would be too busy moving in to their new apartment, so she would not be competing with me, but she assured me that they would eventually take a break to watch me compete.