Must Love Christmas (Glasgow Lads on Ice)

by Avery Cockburn

  Simon’s case is about average in terms of severity. Some people have a shorter, milder bout of neuropathy, while others need ventilators and feeding tubes just to survive, as the nervous system damage extends to their vital organs. Generally, the older one is, the longer it takes to recover.

  Now for the good news: recovery is almost always complete! It can be a long, arduous journey, and we may not cross the finish line the same person we were Before. But as Simon discovers, such ordeals can expand our ideas of who we are and who we can become.

  All About Curling

  As Oliver says, “Curling is the hardest easy-looking sport in the world.” It’s also the most complicated simple-looking sport, so here’s a brief rundown for easy reference in case you get lost while reading (it’s okay, I’ve been there many, many times):

  A curling game is divided into scoring periods known as ends. In each end, all four players from each team take turns throwing stones in this order:

  Team A lead

  Team B lead

  Team A second

  Team B second

  Team A third (usually the vice)

  Team B third

  Team A fourth (usually the skip)

  Team B fourth

  After all stones are thrown, points are won by the team with stones lying closer to the center of the house (the three concentric rings that look like a bullseye).

  Only one team can score in each end.

  One point is scored for each stone that lies closer to the center than any of the opponent’s stones.

  During a throw, the skip (or the vice, when the skip is throwing) stands in the house and places their broom head on the ice to give the thrower a point to aim at.

  The remaining two curlers are the designated sweepers. They can affect the stone’s trajectory by brushing the ice in front of it as it travels. This action melts the surface to reduce friction and help the stone maintain its current path—if it’s going straight, sweeping will help keep it straight, and if it’s already curling, sweeping helps it curl more.

  The sweepers usually judge the stone’s weight (how fast it’s traveling), while the skip or vice standing in the house judges the line (how well the stone is staying on course). They will holler “Hard!” to indicate it’s time to sweep, or “No!” when it’s not.

  There are countless variations on “Hard!” that are all equally suggestive.

  When the game is over, we drink! Winners buy first round.

  Some great curling books:

  Break Through Beginner Curling by Gabrielle Coleman

  Curl to Win by Russ Howard

  Fit to Curl by John Morris

  And curling podcasts:

  2 Girls and a Game

  From the Hack

  The Twelfth End Podcast (USA Curling-focused)

  But the best way to learn about curling is to try it yourself. It’s a sport enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, so why not give it a go? You might be surprised to find there’s a club near you:

  USA

  Canada

  UK

  Everywhere

  About the Author

  Avery Cockburn (rhymes with Savory Slow Churn—mmmm, ice cream…) lives in the US with one infinitely patient man and two infinitely impatient cats.

  Reach out and say “Hiya!” to Avery at:

  www.averycockburn.com

  avery@averycockburn.com

  Twitter: averycockburn

  Facebook: averycockburnauthor

  Rainbow Regiment Facebook readers group

  Bookbub (new release alerts): avery-cockburn