January 22nd — If God intended Sara to live in a mansion with crystal floors and a swimming pool, God intended me to be a ski bunny. On the plane, I asked what time it was and Greg told me, “10:20, Mountain Time.” Even hearing those words gave me goose bumps. I haven’t been on skis in three years and was in considerably better aerobic shape with more muscle tone then. So, those first few runs on the skis were pretty shaky. We stayed on the long green runs (Swinger, Giggle Gulch, YooHoo) through the trees at the base of the mountain instead of trying to reach the summit where the harder ones are. After a while, I found myself not thinking through each turn. I just enjoyed the sunshine, the speed, the beautiful mountain views. The mountain was practically empty so Greg and I had most of the runs to ourselves. Isn’t everything a metaphor for life? I realized that in pushing myself to ski Vogue, a blue run that Greg and I used to enjoy, but today seemed unusually steep when I balanced myself at the top of the cliff looking down. In skiing, you lean forward to prevent yourself from falling down. It’s a move that is completely counter-intuitive when you’re staring down a steep incline. I just kicked off to ski Vogue without letting fear overtake me. The faster I ski, the better I ski, especially when I’m pushing myself slightly over my comfort level. I found myself applying the same rules of “everything I learned about life, I learned in Kindergarten” to the mountain. Stay in control, but don’t ski too cautiously. Approach everything with a balance of control and challenge. Trust yourself. Don’t let fear make you miss the fun. Make nice on the ski lift with your fellow skiers and boarders. Mind your manners when trails merge or a 14-year-old snowboarder cuts you off. Allow yourself the joy of childhood in sliding down a snowy mountain. The only thing marring the fun of this weekend is the thought that radiation on Monday follows Sunday. On my Facebook page, a friend from college French class made a suggestive comment about the true meaning of “apres ski.” I replied, “I didn’t know “apres ski” meant radiation. I must have missed that lesson.”

Amy & Greg about to hit the slopes

Ski Bunny!