Ski week

People would always tell me, “Skiing is such a great family activity!” And I would just look at them -- usually with feigned agreement -- and think to myself, “Yeah, right -- skiing is a great family activity if everybody in the family actually wants to hurl themselves down an icy slope with their life flashing before their eyes.” I was born and raised in L.A., and skiing was not a big activity in my family. So, I am proud to say that I made it through another family ski trip. And, I actually had a good time ... again. I’m still not ready to say that I like skiing. But I’ve gotten a little bit better, and that’s progress.

We stayed with my husband’s cousin’s family in their wonderful rented log cabin. It was perfect, in that Disneyland log cabin sort of way, with everything fitting in with the log cabin theme. We were happy to share their space -- good food, good company, good family time. Their kids are on the Alpine ski team, so they are up in Tahoe almost every weekend. They are a family of Real Skiers, where parallel is the norm. My family is pretty parallel ... except for me. My kids both have surpassed my skiing ability, even though I've skied just as long as they have. They are zipping around, taking on Black Diamonds, while I happily creep down the Green Circles. I am the Wedgemaster. The Pizza Pie among the French Fries. Snowplowing my way down the bunny slope. I try not to be a complete embarrassment to my family, but it’s a close call most of the time. Fortunately, I’m okay with just careening down the slope at my own pace, and my family has accepted the fact that “Mommy is really slow.” My son skied with me down one particularly challenging (for me) slope, and he kept stopping and waiting, looking like he was worried that I would not quite make it. I was touched by his concern, and thought this was pretty considerate for a ten year old! I wonder how many years before he just ditches me and tells me to stay in the cabin so his friends won’t see how lame his mom is. For now, I’ll just enjoy his concern.