The Story of Ruby and Ruby's

Ruby Peters was a roller derby queen in Rockford Illinois. She met her husband, my dad, at the skating rink. This wasn’t the pretty powderpuff kinda of derby, this was the elbow you in the teeth kinda derby.

I remember as a pre-teen there were reruns of old derby games on Saturday morning TV (like super early am), I was just waiting for the cartoon shows. But mom watched those games every Saturday. I knew later that she used to skate, but she never really talked about it much other than the show. It wasn’t until after her death that I found documents and letters from that part of her life that I began to understand just what a bad ass she was. 

Now just one look from my sweet mom, and I would straighten out and fly right. But it wasn’t because she was mean, or had bursts of anger, it’s because I didn’t want to disappoint her. If I missed curfew, her disappointment in me was enough to make me think twice about doing it again.

She had a tough life, but made damn sure I had everything I needed and wanted. Including buying my first guitar when I was 10. I played the hell out of that beat up ol nylon string box. And when I got my first job at 14, she encouraged me to upgrade and spend my money on my hobby. This dreamer spent every second in my room, listening to records, and playing along with them. Soon, I graduated to programming sequencers and writing songs, playing in rock bands in high school. Ruby always thought it was great, and encouraged me to peruse my dreams.

Never once did she scold me for spending so much time with friends, or in rehearsals, she just wanted me to be free and happy. In return, I tried to be honest and hardworking, trying my best to make her proud. 

When she got sick, she downplayed it for years, right until the very end. She never told me to come home, never told me how sick she really was, she wanted me living my dreams. 

Ruby let me Rock. 

-Mel