It's snowing! ... Why am I outside?

When I decided to move from L.A. to Colorado, I knew I would have to sacrifice a few things, namely dancing and 90 degree Februarys. Quite frankly, I had no idea how I would handle my first full-length winter in 15 years. My first approach to the situation was to move here in the summer, thus giving myself a few months to work up to coldness. I figured if I attempted to move here in the fall, winter would be too much of a shock to my system and I'd want to turn right around.

However, I've surprised even myself this time. Despite my trepidation about cold weather and my love of all places tropical, I've actually enjoyed this "new" season and have handled it quite cheerily. Granted it's been a very mild winter with little snow, but a baby step is still a step. And against all possible odds, chances are you might even find me out and about on a snowy day.

Why? Why would I do such a thing? Snow's something to be best admired from the inside looking out. It's what you hope will close schools and work. It's wet & cold & you have to be protected against it & shovel it.

But let me ask you this... have you ever gone skiing?

I thought that I would go skiing maybe once or twice this year. (I've been 9 times.) I thought I would be the only person in Telluride without my own skis. (What do you think ebay's for?) I didn't get too excited about the annual Ski Swap. (Wait until next year!) I thought I would save my money for better pursuits. (Not a chance.)

It all began on Christmas Day... I had planned on sleeping in, sitting around in my pj's, and watching movies. It was a good plan. I was very happy about it. Then a friend of mine convinced me to go skiing with him Christmas morning. Not at noon, or anything reasonable like that, but as soon as the lifts opened at 9am. I spent about an hour of that morning muttering to myself, "What am I doing up this early? Why am I outside? How am I supposed to get my foot into this stupid boot?" Then I hit the slopes.

I went down that bunny hill probably 15 times and didn't fall once, and my interest in skiing was instantly rekindled. I'd skiied some in high school, but only 2 or 3 times since then, and dang, was it fun! I went every chance I got this year and did a pretty good job of keeping my skis attached to my feet. My friends took me up and gave me pointers and helped me down the intermediate slopes. When Rob Corddry & Ed Helms were here for the Comedy Fest, I even understood the jokes they made about the ski runs. I feel like a true Telluride local.

I still have a lot of improving to do, though. For one thing, I need to work on cutting down my preparation time. By the time I get the snow pants, hat, gloves, mittens, scarf, sunscreen, goggles, boots, and skis on, I'm exhausted. I can barely make it to the chair lift let alone contemplate skiing for the next 3 hours.

And I kinda wish I had a big sign to wear on my back that says, "Beginner." That way the folks coming down the hill behind me at 50 miles an hour would know that I'm prone to erratic turning, using up the entire width of the slope, and falling without provocation. Come to think of it, I should probably wear one on the front of me, too, so the people I'm heading toward know to get out of the way.

So I'm beginning to look at snow as a "good" thing. It's nice here--we haven't gotten any full-on blizzards this year like they get in the east. It's more like the snowfall that you see in Christmas movies: quiet, gentle, and beautiful. And it makes people around here smile from ear-to-ear. (For you L.A. folks, imagine the freeway on a Monday morning with NO traffic--it's that kind of smile.) And now I can smile right along with them....

Top of See Forever:

Bobbie, Bo, me, & Jim


Luci & me