Golden Girl

Poised and perfectly polite ~ the epitome of her name.

My oldest daughter loves to ice skate. Our local icehouse – Crystal Ice House – once was the practice ice for an Olympic medalist in training. A star rose from this ice.

She has earned bronze in Sochi, and twice captured gold in the U.S. Championships.

But her name bears more resemblance to her character than to her medal count. I am not best friends with her. We’ve not had coffee together. I don’t anticipate that we ever will. (Though, for the record, if asked, I would gladly accept! She seems, by all accounts, to be a woman who wears the pressures of fame with grace and has a smile and countenance that makes you feel as though you actually are friends … or maybe that is just me wishing.)

But one October Monday, after a weekend of performing, she carried herself with grace and treated dozens of children with genuine kindness and a heart of gold.

Yes, Gracie Gold lived up to her name ~

~ at least during those several hours she spent with our children. As a busy working and homeschooling mom, I know the pressures of being “on.” It might not be in front of a camera, but I know how it feels to constantly be under pressure to keep up a good attitude, get your work done, get other people’s work done, and smile through it all. I think we all do ~ most of us just do it under the scrutiny of our little ones, our husbands or our co-workers, and not under the lights and cameras of the news media!

So, after a long weekend performing with Skate America, having already endured the stress that comes with the spotlight and the news media and the photographers, that Gold took time out to smile with adoring fans really impressed me.

My girls were in the front of the line for a picture with Gracie Gold. Here I must give a shout-out to Kim over at Gametime SportsPhotos because she let me use my Nikon to take my own photos even though she was the official photographer. Gold smiled and signed a skating book for my youngest and a poster for my oldest. But before the on-ice portion, she was without a line, and we went back. Both of my girls had their skates signed by Gold – and my youngest asked if Gold would sign her Bitty Baby skates, too! Gold chatted with us about how cute that was ~ but I was impressed that she entertained my five-year-old’s whimsy.

Oldest daughter having her boot signed by Gracie Gold.

Youngest daughter's skate as well as Bitty Baby's skate!

While my ten-year-old was excited about the photographs and autographs, she was most excited about the fact that she was on the same ice as Gracie Gold.  Gold spent several minutes with three different groups of skaters ~ talking with them as well as skating along with them.

My oldest (in pink) sharing the ice with Gold.

Gold giving my oldest a few pointers.

She also watched the Special Olympics Theatre on Ice program and spent some time spinning inside their circle before warmly receiving a group hug from the crew.

Gold ~ finishing a spin in the circle formed by the Special Olympics Theater On Ice Team.

Gold welcoming a group hug from the SO team.

Her smile never faded and her heart of gold never tarnished.

It makes my heart happy that, on this day, Gold was gracious and kind. Her soft-spoken manner makes me want to believe that this is indicative of her nature. I try not to idolize people (and try to teach my children the same thing) – it puts undue pressure on these mere mortals. But, if for this one day, my daughter recognized the immense talent that was in front of her, I am so thankful that her delicate heart saw it in Gracie Gold.

Gold, surrounded by fans, smiling and modeling poised grace.