Sometimes I want it all, even if just for a day. I have a vision of the perfect winter day, my kind of perfect day. It involves alipine skiing at SilverStar mountain followed by tubing on the mountain, supper at the Mexican restaurant on the mountain and finishes with a romantic skate on the pond on the mountain—a winter wonderland day outside, in the alpine forest.
It’s only ever a matter of timing…
With Christmas, 2 family birthdays and New Year’s—I had to choose a date sometime amongst all the celebrations and events…
I celebrated New Year’s Eve in Calgary. The late hours were spent at the airport with one of my sisters. It was one of those flights that sat on the tarmac in the snow, wind and darkness for at least an hour as the pilot warned us of moderate turbulence over the Rocky Mountains…
My darling eldest daughter was home waiting for me on my return. I thought she’d stayed up to welcome in the New Year with her wonderful mother. But alas, she was still up as she was mayor of Ashville (her DS3 Animal Crossing Town). As mayor, she was expected to see in the New Year in the cyber community of Ashville. Though, to her credit, she assured me that she stayed up to greet me as well.
The very next morning was, you guessed it, New Year’s Day. The perfect time to attempt the perfect day. We loaded up the car and headed for the mountain.
We arrived and realized that we hadn’t brought Pip’s ski poles. There were tears, attempts to rent poles (rejected by rental shop) and finally the offer to lend her giant poles (Dad or Mom’s). After attempting a run with Peter’s poles (longer than she is tall), she decided to do without.
It wasn’t until I was skiing down the first run that I realized how unbelievably tired I was from life’s events. My eyes filled with tears but I did not cry. Inside my mind though, I wept in exhaustion. I felt as though I should not be on the mountain in my state. Skiing was difficult and my legs ached. I managed 3 1/2 runs and decided to take a break and wait for my family as they skied a few more runs.
Next on the perfect agenda was tubing. Our family of five attempted the five person train. We were fast and shot past the hay at the end of the run (designed to slow us). But somehow, during the fun, my toes froze. I almost never have cold feet and hands. Again, exhaustion had taken its tole. I was too cold to continue and we moved on to the Mexican meal.
In the restaurant I took off my boots and rested my frozen feet on lucky Peter. I would have cried in pain but I’m not one to have a boo-hoo in private, let alone public. The meal was fine—I’m a Mexican foodie! Peppers, tomatoes, cilantro and beans—my favourite flavours. Although, Pip ordered a hot dog (her first and last of the year) and Tabs dinner choice was a bag of salt and pepper chips. I allow my girls only one hotdog a year because they’re so full of toxic carcinogenic chemicals. I guess then, it was Pip’s lucky day.
I cast my thoughts on the final quest for the perfect day...the skate. Cautiously, and with my frozen feet, I glanced around hopeful the gang was too tired. I lucked out, everyone was spent. We decided to end the perfect day after the Mexican meal: we could always skate in town, on another day.
I triumphed. I attempted and nailed the perfect day—so what if my humanness got in the way? The body can only give its best and no more.
Lesson learned: one needs to be well rested to attempt the quest for a perfect day.
Still not there yet…no time to rest with two birthdays– bang-bang–after New Year’s Day.
Peter’s birthday included attending the Movie American Hustle. I pan it based on the 2 female characters in the movie being used as sexy eye candy and little else; also, the first 1/2 h was slooow and Christian Bale was not all that believable—his tum, hair, and accent seemed fake. The fact that the American critics gave it good reviews is a terrifying sign of the state of American culture at this moment in time.
I type this at Starbucks (with little Pip at my side on her DS3) after dropping off my birthday girl at the pool for a birthday swim. My eldest daughter is at the same pool—taking her water park life guard certification. She finished her life guard last November and this is another course so she can work at the water parks around the globe—she’s thinking a summer job at Disney World or on a cruise ship would be nice.
Here’s to a well rested body and mind…
Happy New Year my friends ! XO
Leave a Reply