Every Tuesday my Two Writing Teachers colleagues and I host the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Teachers from all around the world participate in sharing a story each week.
April isn’t even over yet and already this month has been filled with momentous events for my family and me!
Early on in the month, my eleven year old daughter competed in her only Free Ski Competition of the season. Because of the pandemic, her team’s opportunities to compete were limited, so this was the only competition she was able to do. She was amazing!
A few days later, I had surgery for melanoma. The surgery itself was no big deal, really, just an incision on the back of my arm, a few centimeters, I could hardly feel it. But the cancer was a big deal to me. It has loomed over me all winter, infecting everything I do with worry… Now it’s gone!
Then, not long after that, my daughter’s ski team hiked Tuckerman’s Ravine! It was a milestone and bucket list item for ME, and doing it with my kid was just about the most amazing day I’ve had in my life. Graduation day, wedding day, the birth of my two children… hiking and skiing this famous bowl on a beautiful spring day was right up there.
The very next day was the last day of the official season for our local ski resort. It was another beautiful spring ski day, and with all the tourists gone it felt like a giant family party — socially distanced and with skiing. People were skiing in tee shirts and bathing suits, music was playing. It was a beautiful day to wrap up a very strange season.
Then a few days after that, I skinned up Madonna mountain to celebrate my 100th Day of skiing this season. Getting to 100 Days is a milestone for me. The last time I was able to do it I was in college and working as a ski instructor. Because of the pandemic, my work schedule is cut in half, which isn’t great financially, but has been really good for my work—life, ski—life balance!
A few days later, with trails dry enough due to a stretch of unusually sunny and pleasant weather, I rode my mountain bike for the first time in the season. Another milestone and fun thing, especially because it isn’t every year that mountain bike season and ski season overlap!
Then a few days after that, in typical Vermont fashion for April, it snowed 2 feet! So I got to ski some more! In fact, I skinned and mountain biked in the same day! We call it a Double Dip and it’s rare! The stars really have to align for the bike trails to be dry enough while there is still plenty of snow in the mountains.
So… lots to celebrate over the past few weeks. I’m filled with gratitude for the amazing place where I live. And there’s still time for April Powers to grant a few more wishes before the month is over.
P.S. April Powers is something I just made up and I’m hoping it catches… lol.