A Conversation from Yesterday

"I have to go to California again." Mr. P told the kids.

"Ahhh, tsk......" replies 4 of 4 who is 8 years old.

"Sorry, but I have no choice, but I won't be gone long." Mr. P. says.

"Did you not do a good enough job the last time you were down there?"

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We went skiing yesterday.  I use the term we loosely though.  We did all go, but I didn't actually ski.  I was the anchor in the ski lodge sipping coffee and working on one of my paintings.  When someone wanted to come in I was there.  Just as Mr. sits in the sun in California sipping cool drinks for our benefit, I sit in the ski lodge for my family even though I'd rather be skiing like them;-)

I used to ski.  I learned when I met Mr. P.  Even after many, many years of lessons and skiiing, it scared me then and scares me even more now.  I hate the heights of the chair lifts, the bitter cold winds while swinging up above crazy daredevils down below.  I quiver at the thought of staring down a steep, steep ice laden hillside.  I think about the broken leg and surgery that 1 of 4 had to endure with just a small fall from a very slow speed a few years back.  And darn it....I had to miss it all.