Thursday, October 28, 2010

Mr. Burba


Mr. Burba was the cool seventh grade science teacher of Lord Baltimore Jr. High. Long hair and sideburns, corduroy bell bottoms and leather vests. Girl students would sigh upon entering his classroom. Teacher by day, he was my ice skating instructor on Saturdays.


Flesh colored tights and baby blue skating costume, white mittens and rented skates. I couldn't believe I had the handsome Mr. Burba to myself for an hour. Step in close, arm about my waist, left hand held across his chest. White breath escaping in the chilly morning air, heart beat soaring with the happiness of movement.


This was the very moment I fell in love with ice skating, this was the very moment Mr. Burba said I was ready to move on.  My heart nearly broke at the thought of Saturday's without Mr. Burba. "You are a very special girl, and one day someone special will find you."


Saturdays became everyday, and everyday became more than once a day. I couldn't wait to feel the exhilaration of gliding across glass like frozen water. A place to be graceful and beautiful and everything thing I wished to be.


My second year of ice skating now with skates that were my own and costumes of every color, someone special found me. Step in close, arm about my waist, left hand held over his heart. In that very moment I fell in love. In that very moment I was so glad to have known a science teacher in seventh grade who skated on Saturdays.

32 comments:

NanE said...

I loved this story E! We always ice skated on the frozen ponds near our home but I never took lessons. I would watch the Olympics as a girl and dreamed of standing on the platform, beside Peggy Flemming or Janet Lynn, medal placed around my neck, waving my bouquet high, sigh, it was never meant to be! Both of my girls took lessons for awhile and loved it. I would love to see some pictures of you in your costumes, how fun!

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Sometimes I get so lost in your stories, Elizabeth, that I totally don't pick up on the fact that you are giving us a tutorial! : ) It's okay though, I don't mind going back up to the top and starting over ~ this time paying real attention to the pictures and not just the fact that she is an ice skater coming to life.

Beedeebabee said...

Oh Elizabeth, that story was sooo beautiful...I just LOVED it, and I love your adorable little skater girls! In fact, I love this blog and everything on it!!! You have such a wonderful style all your own, and it's just sooo delightful, and your creations make me grin from ear to ear! ... and trust me, I can go on and on!!!xo Paulette ;D

Anonymous said...

These are just darling!! I am loving the little skates too!

Lorlore said...

I loved your story, as always!!! Love the ice skating gal!!

Celestial Charms said...

I love how your stories so perfectly weave together with your crafts. Question Elizabeth, are your ideas for most of your creations crafted from the fabulous memories you have stored, or do your memories come to the surface by creating a fabulous craft and then that triggers your memory of the past? Of course, it could be a combination of the two, but I have often wondered about this, as I am always enthralled by your stories!

Celestial Charms said...

Forgot to mention how much I adore your beautiful skaters! :)
Maureen

Hugs said...

Love, love, love your skaters and the beautiful story. Thanks so much for sharing both.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Elizabeth - this is a precious story! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us. And, it's so nice to know that you are so happy with your Mr. Right. Hugs, to you - Patti

cherry said...

They are just adorable! They remindme of my childhood...such wonderful whimsy! nhugs, cherry

Nan said...

Just a wonderful story and adorable little skater girl. When I click on the pattern E. nothing happens? I should be able to bring it up then print.
Nan

Lisa said...

Since I was a little girl my mother and I watched the ice skating on TV and always went to Holiday on Ice every winter. Dad made me a ice rink in the side yard out of logs and a sheet of plastic filled with water.
I always knew I would be an ice skater when I grew up.
Well I did not grow up to be an ice skater but still love ice skating the memories.
I love this project they are beautiful :)

BucksCountyFolkArt said...

The "E, True Hollywood Story"!!

The Star Gal said...

I just luv your blog. Always the cutest things. I especially love these little skaters, and the pom pom birdies!
Keep sending good things our way.

Sanja said...

Odlične, prekrasne i preslatke lutkice! Jako mi se sviđaju! Hvala za tutorijal!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

So precious through and through! This is a project I want to do this winter! Thanks for sharing your pattern, sweet E! Yours are so beautiful! The one I got from you will be on my post Sunday! Hugs! ♥

Cindy said...

Elizabeth..it is so neat to hear about the skating you Northern girls enjoyed. We had one Ice skating arena in Dallas growing up.It was so rare if we went there.I could roller skate like crazy..but ice skating..I looked like a weebly wobbly..lol

Your skaters are just precious.They look so real.
Thanks for the sweet comment.
How is the puppy enjoying the backyard?

Have a great weekend.

Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham

Elyse said...

ADORABLE!

i make clothespin dolls that are sort of similar. i am loving the idea of the baby blue winter outfit. so sweet.

isn't it the most fun making a batch and posing them together. as i always say, blogging is playing in disguise!

xo
elyse

Holiday Sparkle - Cyndi LaChance said...

Elizabeth!!! These are ADORABLE. And story was ust as sweet. Thanks for sharing!!!

barncat (Lisa) said...

Such a cute skater girl, and a very sweet story of how you met your hubby. :)

Carrie @ Cottage Cozy said...

Oh what a darling little skater girl! The story is darling too!

Lena said...

Oh, I am so glad that Dawn sent her readers her to see this wonderful craft! Thank you so much for sharing it. I will be making a few for a little girl's tea party event this Christmas season. They are truly charming.

good_to_be_home said...

My daughter and I just came over from Dawn's site and we enjoyed seeing your pretty projects. I really enjoyed reading your story about Mr. Burba. Thanks for sharing!

Susan said...

Hi, I love you blog and you do such wonderful, creative work! I'm interested in making some of these little darling skaters and sledders for an ornament party I attend every year, I think the girls will love to receive one of these! Thank you SO much for showing us all how you made these, that is so generous of you and I will put a tag on the ones I make crediting you as the source of the pattern/idea/inspiration.

I'm sorry to trouble you with a question, but could you please tell me what size the dress pattern should be, measuring across it, if I use a 3/4" bead like you suggest? Printing it out as is, it's tiny. At 200%, it's 2 3/4" across. Is that the size I would need?

Thanks so much, sorry to be a bother.

janice15 said...

lOVELY LITTLE LADIES THEY ARE..I LOVE THE SOFT BLUE..WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO MAKE THESE ONES. I NEED TO SIT DOWN AND REALLY READ YOUR BLOG POST. HUGS

ubucatpatch/ nourscatpatch said...

vraiment trop mignon merci

Chickachick said...

what a great post!! I love your blog!

Cherie Connolly said...

Oh my goodness!!!! Such cute little sisters! Just added to my to do list!!
Thanks

Felicia S. said...

Elizabeth, the skating doll ornaments are so adorable, and as I started reading your story, I realized we have similar childhood memories! My first pair of skates were from the S&H green stamps catalog, and I loved being on the ice more than anything. Your little dolls took me back to my childhood and I can't tell you how much fun it was to read your story.

Felicia S.

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