The Slopes

I struggled as I worked to secure the last buckle on the stiff plastic boot.  The five layers I had piled on that morning were simply not conducive to indoor activity.  As the last buckle snapped into place I stood up straight, relieved I was finally ready to go.  Stiff legged, I ackwardly waddled around the hords of people and out into the cold, crisp morning air.  I was ready to hit the slopes.

Skiing is my most favorite winter-time activity.  I consider myself more of a beach goer and summer person rather than snow and winter person; however, when each winter rolls around and I find myself flanked by cold I immediately see a silver lining when a ski trip has been planned.  Turns out, I embarked on such a trip this past weekend. 

Skiing is quite different now that I live on the East Coast.  Growing up out West I was accustomed to traveling to Lake Tahoe or Park City Utah or even the local LA mountains of Big Bear and Arrowhead in California.  The climate is dry, the mountains are large with expansive ski resorts and usually the snow there is bountiful.  I know I seem bias, and that's because I am, but out East the options are more limited with some of the best East Coast skiing featured in Vermont where it is usually colder and much wetter resulting in icier conditions.

In search of the slopes, we made the trek from South Carolina up to Vermont, passing through no fewer than 5 states in 4 days to make the journey.  But it was all worth it.  That said, I thought it would be a relevant time to go through some of the things I love most about skiing as well as a few points I find utterly perplexing about the cold weathered sport.

1. The Attire:
Ski boots are uncomfortable.  I think most people would agree.  What surprises me is why hasn't someone come up with a better option? Snowboarders practically get to wear tennis shoes while skiers are doomed to wear boots that look like they belong part of a Star Wars Storm Troopers costume. And how about all those layers? I usually feel like some rendition of the Michelin Man when fully equipped for the sport.

2. The Ski Lifts:
First let me say I'm glad there is such an invention so I don't have to shimmy up the hill on foot with all that heavy gear in tow.  That said, some lifts are much better than others.  This weekend I was nearly knocked flat on my face as I was waiting for a lift.  It swung around so fast I was lucky to have quick reflexes to grab the bar and hoist myself up before the chair continued up the mountain.  It was going with or without me on it. 
Then there was the time when I was young and was on a ski lift with my Mother.  Her fanny pack (it was a functional piece at the time) got stuck on the lift and to my horror I watched as she failed to exit the lift, instead swinging around, clinging to the bar and trying to get the fanny pack unstuck, at which point she had no choice but to ride the chair back down.  (Dont worry, she wasn't hurt which made this for a fantastically hillarious story for years to come).

3.  The Lodge:
This past weekend we were skiing with a group of 12.  This group was at all levels so naturally we would split up and go on our separate runs to meet back at the summit Lodge at a given time.  Each time I entered the lodge it was impossibly crowded with no seats open.  Of course this meant retorting to "lodge manners" where we would promptly stare at a table that looked like it was almost finished, only to pounce once they started grabbing their gloves and hats in preparation to return to the mountain.  It seems that all dining norms change when you're on a ski slope and what's more is I think everyone feels like a different person since you can't really tell who people are and what they normally look like with so much gear on.

4. Moguls:
Maybe it's because the Winter Olympics are currently taking place, or maybe it's just my inner desire to be an expert skier, or maybe it's that I think I'm a much better skier than I am... I'll go with the latter.  We went on several runs this trip that were markedly more difficult with the addition of moguls.  Moguls are those treacherous mounds of snow that undoubtedly will give you a great skiing workout with the result being a sore back, tight knees and sore legs immediately following.  Naturally, this is appealing to me so we went on a few of those runs.  I tried my hardest to picture how Lindsey Vonn takes on the slopes... come on, Rachel, try to do it like she does.  Needless to say I have no idea what I looked like but I'm pretty sure it wasn't Lindsey Vonn - especially when I happened to loose my footing resulting in a rapid slide down the mountain turtle shell style for a few hundred yards...

5. The Beautiful Scenery:
Now that I've laid out my qualms, which I'd like to note are also the details that have me already looking forward to next years ski trip... There is one undeniably universal thing that is wonderful about skiing, and that is the scenery.  Whether your on the East Coast or the West Coast or perhaps even in another country, skiing is I believe a therapeutic exercise not matched by many activities.  I love the quiet surroundings where many times the only sound is the swish and movement of snow passing underneath skis.  The evergreen trees that surround you while skiing is a constant reminder of nature's quiet and constant beauty.  The trees are present in their natural climate no matter how cold, icy, stormy or miserable it gets on the mountain.  The views from the top of the mountain are like looking at a real life snow globe except it gives you the opportunity to see miles of terrain you can only view from the top.

Despite some of the uncomfortable and funny rituals we all partake in when we want to go skiing; it will remain one of my favorite sports to do in some of my least favorite weather conditions.  Back from our weekend trip, I just finished packing up our layers of coats and winter wear and tucking them away in the closet.  But I'm already anticipating when winter again presents itself next year, and hopefully, there will be a ski trip to look forward to.

If These Walls Could Talk

Bubble wrap.  There was lots and lots of bubble wrap.  I was watching the news a few weeks ago when the anchor mentioned the inventor, Alfred Fielding, had passed away. The anchor explained that Mr. Fielding's ingenious idea had come to him while on an airplane. As he looked out the window at the bubble-looking clouds below, the idea came - why not create wrap that could be used as a protective layer?

That's one of those, now why didn't I think of that momments.

In this particular instance, I was glad they used so much of that plastic pop-wrap.  It was layered and taped to protect a table and six chairs that had just arrived at my apartment after making a cross country journey.  I was fortunate enough to inherit this beautiful set of furniture from my Great Aunt who recently passed.  It's the first time I have owned a passed down piece from my family and consequently, the nicest piece of furniture I have.

As I worked my way through the stubborn and tightly bound wrap, I couldn't help but think about the journey this table and six chairs has been on.  How many people sat in those seats, how many meals were served, cups of coffee poured and pieces of cake sliced? This table undoubtedly has a story, and I'm sure a fascinating one.  But of course, the whole of it, no one will ever know.  Those experiences and happenings will only be recorded through the wear in the wood, maybe an occassional stain on one chair or maybe even just the silent presence of such a beautiful piece of furniture.

Imagine what stories we would have if that table, other family heirlooms, even rugs, clocks, a piece of jewelry, or the very walls in an old home could talk.  I know this is not a new concept but nonetheless it's an interesting one to think about.  As the table sits in our living room, people will pass by each day, conversations will be held in its seats and meals will be set on its surface.  As me and my family partake in the continuation of this table's history, I'll simply continue to wonder about its past.

Maybe it's crazy I wonder so much about an inanimate object's experiences.  My curiosity gets the better of me sometimes... nevertheless, until that table and chair gets bubble wrapped up again to make it's next journey, there will be lots of coffee poured and cake sliced and holidays had on it's surface right here in my home.

To Dream

It was Saturday morning.  I opened my tired eyes and stared up at the white ceiling.  The fan in my room was endlessly spinning and I tried to focus on just one prong as it continuously looped around in a tireless circle.  I laid there, noticing the calm quiet of the room that I so very much appreciate early in the morning.  Just moments ago I had been in a deep and peaceful sleep.  Or had I? As I laid there I tried to remember what was in that vivid dream I was having just before I met my waking reality.

I hate when that happens.  I can't remember what my dream was about.

I've always been curious about dreams.  There are theories we are taught, some based on Freud, some based on other scientific scholars who try to dissect the neurological happenings while we sleep.  What causes a person to dream? I find dreaming fascinating.  There are countless times I have woken to think that what took place in my subconscious was in fact a reality.  Dreams seem so real sometimes that it is difficult to decifer whether the events actually took place or not.

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become

- John Ruskin

Where there are dreams of flying, winning a championship race, traveling and embarking on exciting adventures all that evoke positive feeling and amusement - there are also those dreams that evoke fear, bewilderment and uncomfortable evils... nightmares.  I would love to know how I could turn the bad dream button off.  Maybe nightmares are our consious fears just projected, intensified and animated in our sleep.  Whatever the case, I could do without them.

I have had dreams, and I have had nightmares. I overcame the nightmares because of my dreams.
- Jonas Salk

What about waking dreams?  Daydreaming, I believe, is a wonderful opportunity to think about successful things coming true in a personal future.  There are times I catch myself daydreaming about a certain outcome.  What if I were to become a successful and known writer? How many children will I have? What kind of career will I have in the next ten years? Daydreams seem to be more closely connected with real-life happenings.  Or at least I like to think so.

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.
- Henry David Thoreau

It is curious to me that we use the same word for stories and images in our sleep as we do for a goal or even fantasy that we wish to come true in the future.  Dreams.

If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole thing was started by a mouse.
-Walt Disney

While these are only my (and a few fairly famous people's) humble thoughts on such a fantastic concept, I can say that I sort of hope scientists and psychologists don't ever completely define or explain why we so very often dream.  There remains a mystery and pleasant introspection that comes from dreaming.  It is one of those things that perhaps shouldn't be fully explained but always thought and wondered about.

As you can tell this isn't the first time I've thought so much about dreaming... after several days of thinking about writing on the topic, this morning I awoke and stared once again at that ceiling fan.  I did in fact dream last night and once again can't remember what it was about... in any event, I couldn't help but smile slightly, today I would once again resume living in what I consider part of my very real and wonderful dream.