Meet Heidi

Until Heidi, I'd never met anyone who dreamed of doing something for so long and when the chance came, she didn't let age stop her. As a young child, Heidi dreamed of ice skating.

Only one problem: In the deep south, the closest thing in her hometown and anywhere nearby, was a roller rink. So she made do, content to study every move her idols Peggy, then Dorothy, made on the ice. Then, in her tiny bedroom, she'd jump and spin in front of make-believe judges as they huddled on the edge of her bed and scored her own Olympic performance.

Through college and corporate life, through the early years of her marriage and the birth of her son, that dream simmered. Finally, on her 40th birthday and living in an Atlanta suburb, she laced on a stiff pair of blue vinyl skates and wobbled out to join a bunch of wide-eyed children for a group lesson at a suburban rink.

Her knees shook as she struggled to stand up straight. After a few spills, Heidi's instructor pointed her to a circle of middle-aged ice addicts. Together, her new soul sisters, met for early morning sessions and after work again to learn how  to waltz jump, mohawk turn, and sit spin. Off the ice, they supported each other through divorces, troubled children, moving and aging parents.

As if she knew its purpose, skating became Heidi's sanctuary, a place to unwind while raising her son, adopting Emily from China, moving to Nashville. It brought her peace after a hysterectomy and during her divorce.

Now 52, because of skating, she created a business designing custom skating and ice dancing competition dresses.

Heidi with Diana, a 28-year old math college professor, wears one of Heidi's creations. 

Recently I went to watch Emily, now 10, compete in ice dancing with Robert, her and Heidi's master-level coach.

After, came Heidi's good friend, Sandy, a 66-year old grandmother. She sailed and spun (in one of Heidi's custom made creations) with Robert before her unfortunate finale.

Heidi was the last to perform with Robert in the Hickory Hoe Down.  

She didn't win. (Neither did Sandy.)  A 59-year old Vanderbilt professor skated off with first place.

But it didn't seem to matter. Heidi appeared content to have just skated.

Maybe this was her Olympics, the wind blowing her loose hair (Robert's trick to appear like she's going faster) and her parents, brother and daughter cheering her on.

This was her chance to fly. Winning would have just been the icing on an already great dream.