My hiatus the last few weeks was due to a long, relaxing Christmas Break in the freezing weather of Rhode Island. Winter Break meant cold weather, Christmas, my sister’s wedding, New Years, and a ton of down time to make a dent in my endless list of things I want to accomplish before I graduate. While my adventures may not technically count as San Diego/ California activities, I’m going to include it. For the last few years, after a disastrous attempt to snowboard in high school, I have been saying that I wanted to learn how to ski. Every year I am either too busy or too lazy to head out to the mountains, but not this year. Not only is this my last year in college, but it’s my last year to mooch off my parents (such a sad thought). Since skiing isn’t the cheapest of sports, especially when you are renting, I figured it was now or never. On a surprisingly sunny morning, my mom and I headed to Yagoo, the one and only “mountain” in Rhode Island. After a minor workout getting my boots on we were ready to go. My first challenge was the bunny hill. I thought the lesson would begin once I reached the top of the hill; however, I quickly realized I should not underestimate the rope tow. After witnessing several wipeouts, I made my way over fully prepared to get a face full of snow. Despite my hesitations I made it to the top and released the rope looking like I kind of knew what I was doing. Securely at the top my mother started explaining the basic terms of a beginner, mostly focusing on the pizza concept. We quickly realized that having my mother be my instructor was not the best option. I asked “okay I’ve got pizza down, how do I turn?” To which she replied “I don’t know, you just do it.” Helpful? I think not. After struggling for a few more minutes we decided it would be best to sign up for a private lesson. An hour later, I was skiing…slowly. I apparently have a fear of speed and was not quite at comfortable yet. Never the less, I made it down all of the green and blue runs at Yagoo. That may sound impressive for a first attempt, so I should mention that Yagoo is not a real mountain by any means and any run here is probably comparable to a green run at a decent mountain. We all have to start somewhere right? The following week my mom and her friend Kim brought me to Massachusetts to attempt a few real runs. I started small, with the wide green runs, still inching my way down as slowly as possible. After finding my “ski legs” I quickly became much more adventurous, tackling several blues, making my way higher and higher up the mountain. I was having a blast and forgetting my fear of speed. I was almost on pace with my mother and Kim and was feeling great. Towards the end of the afternoon we decided to try one other run. This run was essentially a straight shot down the middle of the mountain, steep, and icy. Slowing myself down a little and sticking to the outside with less ice, I made it down without any scares. Toward the middle my Mom stopped me and said “Look back and see what you just accomplished. Sometimes you don’t realize it while you’re going down, but it’s important to look back and see what you just did.” Not to get too sentimental and all of that, but I think there’s a pretty good life lesson there. Throughout all the struggles and the day to day b.s, sometimes we need to stop and look back and see what we’ve already accomplished. I tend to get lost in the boring classes, the tests, and the same nights out in Mission Beach, but I am in my last semester of college, I have great friends, and I’ve already accomplished a lot. Sometimes looking back and seeing where we’ve been and what we’ve already been through makes going forward look a little bit easier.
