My Sweet Peas

I rolled down my window, maxed the heat, and turned my music up as high as my sad little stereo could sing it ... and I was in heaven ... speeding (opps!) through the windy mountain roads with the sun kissing my arms, the mountain air making my lungs tingle and majesty all around me. I think that it must be so frustrating to be with me in the mountains because I just feel overwhelmed with beauty.

Treesa and I stayed at the Delta Kananaskis on Wednesday and skied on Thursday. It was delightful from the moment I left the city. I got there and had a great workout ... running overlooking the mountains (and a very cute and dimpley pool boy!)...then Treesa showed up and we grabbed hot-chocolate (endless hotchoc in the lobby ... my kind of hotel!) and walked along the valley ridge. We saw a herd of elk and shared about our lives as the setting sun light up the mountains that hugged us all around. A swim, melt in the out-door hot-tub, purchases of a couple adorable stuffed wildlife, a disposable camera, and gum ... and we were off to the ski hill.

Now neither of us had been skiing in at least four years ... for sure not since my last surgery. My tummy was in knots ... I have not been that nervous in a long time ... I think it is even scarier to not be able to do something that you used to be able to do in your sleep. We used to have seasons passes and would be out at the hill at least every second weekend. So we get all geared up, both looking snazy in our new jackets (amazement at the number of pockets would be an understatement ... any time Treesa needed something it was like she was playing a game of hide and seek with her jacket). My brother could not believe that I was not going to rent newer skies but I was sure that my old girls would carve up that mountain like no bodies business ... or at least I was determined to give them a chance before hiding them.
So away we go ... I thought that my legs might just refuse to get off the lift ... but as I am learning more and more they are complete troopers, always trusting that I know what is best. First turn, very shaky ... almost in tears thinking what was I thinking ... second turn, hmmmm better ... third turn, smooth .... I CAN SKI!!!!!
I had forgotten just how much I love skiing. I was beyond proud of us ... by the end of the day we were skiing only black-diamond!

There was one moment of utter perfection when a storm blew in and the sun was still shining. There I was on the side of a mountain with the hugest snow-families dancing all around me and the sun spotlighting each little turn. Hmmmm...

My heart finally feels rested.

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My dear friend Erin was home for a month from overseas, and although she loved being home to see all of her friends and family ... she felt like Calgary was not the place she needed to be and is off again on another journey. It is hard to get used to having a friend become part of your day-to-day stuff and then have to let go of them. Erin was reading Tuesday's with Morrie (it was kind of forced on her ... as many of you might understand) and was just finishing it up the morning after she stayed at my place. I grabbed my softest blanket ever, shuffled into the den, squished myself between her and the wall with Winnie the Pooh hugging my head as a pillow and got her to read the end out loud. I must have needed a cry because there I was crying way before I usually do. It was loverly moment. She is loverly and I will miss her a lot ...

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Do you know what I love? A truck driver, especially a garbage truck driver, who takes the time to tie an old stuffed animal to his truck. It is a rare thing to see but whenever I do I giggle to myself and think about the kind of person who would do that ... I think I would like them.