When you can't sleep what do you do? I have had interrupted sleep for over 20 years so I have learned to adapt by think about things I might write about when I have my awake intervals. Last night I began to think about levels as they relate to achievement in all kinds of activities. Most of us are familiar with going through various levels of achievement when learning something new as well a struggling with breaking through to higher levels after we have practiced our skills for a long time. In my shelter in place isolation after the abrupt closure of the ski area there is time to reflect on a lot of things.
Here are some of my thoughts on breaking through to a higher level in some of the activities I have participated in. ( I just now finished practicing playing my clarinet. The instrument has languished in my closet for too many years. I never did become an accomplished player but did enjoy my days playing in my high school band even making to first clarinet. I guess the competition wasn't that great in my small school! To say the least I am really rusty. Fortunately my wife is tolerant of my squeaks and squawks as I hone my skills. The maximum level I hope to break through to is smooth enough to amuse myself.)
At the finish of the ski season on this past Monday I had a great day skiing at a high intermediate level. At least I thought that was the case. My buddies will have to verify that. I have always aspired to ski at a higher level, but have now reached an age where the body does not have the reaction time to tackle the moguls. I was lured into some easy tree skiing this season but quickly recognized I was pushing the boundary for my own safety.
When I retired at age 60 I pursued a life long desire to learn to play the piano. Our ten year old daughter at the time was taking lessons so I engaged her piano teacher to give me instruction. We had weekly lessons with exercises to be practiced during the week. Of course we both started at a very elementary level. While her progress was amazingly swift, I would take a month to accomplish what she did in a week! I took lessons for over 6 years but never was able to break through to a very competent level. No matter how much I practiced I kept hitting a wall. (The desire to make music on the piano has not left me now some 24 years later). Even though I know I am not likely to move beyond an elementary level I recently sat down to work on some simple tunes.
This brings me to thinking about tennis. I has been a life long sport for me and I both enjoy playing and watching the matches. The pros often talk about breaking through to a new level. Even the number 1 players will keep striving to up their level of play both in the short term in a match as well in the long term of their career. Often as the pro rises through the ranks they will speak of moving to a higher level. Breaking through doesn't always happy and staying the high level inevitably fails. Thus I conclude that working hard to improve is a laudable trait, but at some point one has to face reality! Do your best, make sacrifices that are healthy and then for your mental health accept your fate.
Friday, March 20, 2020
Friday, March 13, 2020
Geezer Skiers 10th Anniversary Lunch - 2020
Our self identified Tough Old Geezer Skiers celebrated our 10th anniversary with a lunch this past Wednesday at the Trax Restaurant of Greek Peak Ski Resort. Traditionally we have had a near end of season gathering to reflect on the season, enjoy food and drink, swap stories and speculate on what going to happen next season. At our tenth we had a dozen in attendance. A few regulars were missing. At least on due to the corona virus issues. Yes, we are the vulnerable group in this world pandemic.
To spice things up, I administered the following quiz. There were ten ballots that I was able to collect.
We shared our responses while waiting for our food and enjoyed hearing the different responses to the open ended questions as well as the numerical tabulations for the true-false questions.
Question 1. 70% percent had fallen at least once this season.
Question 2. The age of starting skiing ranged f rom 4 to 72. However the most dominant age for starting was late 20's to early 30's.
Question 3. I know that Allen B. probably took the cake since he started shortly after WWII and is now 92 but hung it up this year. Numerous others were mentioned where many of them have been skiing over 50 years and still going.
Question 4. 50% have at least one grandchild on the slopes.
Question 5. Among our group I have had the most ski days this year. As of yesterday 85. Among our group over 40 days of skiing is common.
Question 6. Only 2 of the 10 have had a joint replacement. Nice statistic. However I know of at least one not in attendance that has had a hip replacement. And note that all with these replacements are regular skiers.
Question 7. This was dream time. Some were looking to ski to 90+. Those that had not skied some of the big mountains would like to ski Vail, Stowe etc. We have one young geezer who really loves tree skiing. Many yearn for endless days of powder skiing. My fantasy is to be able to go helicopter skiing in untracked powder of British Columbia.
Question 8. 90% of us have had at least one surgery. I don't know who the lone soul that hasn't had a surgery. But God bless him for being so fortunate.
Question 9. Over many years we have made a plaque award to Greek Peak staff whom we most appreciate. No physical award this year but several people were identified as providing outstanding service from cleaning to lift loading to management. We like to encourage excellence at our home ski area.
Question 10. This was memory time for all those that have passed on to the moguls in the sky or have simply aged out of the sport they loved. We miss those friends with whom wet spent many companionable days on the slopes along with coffee breaks and lunches. If we were to compile a list of these bygone skiers it would likely add up to 30 to 40 individuals. This is a reminder we need to recruit the next generation of Tough Old Geezer Skiers.
We had our cake at the end of the lunch and we were happy to share a piece with a young lad of 5 or so who happened by our table in company of his mother. She was pleased to take a picture of the cake to share with her parents or maybe grandparents who were skiers in the geezer category. A delight to know that there a youngsters out there who will some day remember in their geezerhood a bunch of old guys having fun on the slopes.
It looks like we are done for the season. Much too early to suit me, but we will scatter to our off season activities and look forward to gathering again on the slopes in November! May global warming begin to be mitigated!
To spice things up, I administered the following quiz. There were ten ballots that I was able to collect.
GEEZER SKIER 10 YEAR QUIZ
(Circle True or False, or fill in the blank)
1. I have fallen at least once this ski season. True False
2. I started skiing at what age _____________.
3. What Geezer Skier do you think has been skiing for the most years? ____________
4. At least one of my grandchildren is a skier. True False
5. _____________ probably has the most days of skiing this year.
6. I have had a joint replacement. True False
7. My biggest ski fantasy is __________________.
9. What Greek Peak Staff person would you elect MVP this year?
10. How many former geezer skiers can you name? We shared our responses while waiting for our food and enjoyed hearing the different responses to the open ended questions as well as the numerical tabulations for the true-false questions.
Question 1. 70% percent had fallen at least once this season.
Question 2. The age of starting skiing ranged f rom 4 to 72. However the most dominant age for starting was late 20's to early 30's.
Question 3. I know that Allen B. probably took the cake since he started shortly after WWII and is now 92 but hung it up this year. Numerous others were mentioned where many of them have been skiing over 50 years and still going.
Question 4. 50% have at least one grandchild on the slopes.
Question 5. Among our group I have had the most ski days this year. As of yesterday 85. Among our group over 40 days of skiing is common.
Question 6. Only 2 of the 10 have had a joint replacement. Nice statistic. However I know of at least one not in attendance that has had a hip replacement. And note that all with these replacements are regular skiers.
Question 7. This was dream time. Some were looking to ski to 90+. Those that had not skied some of the big mountains would like to ski Vail, Stowe etc. We have one young geezer who really loves tree skiing. Many yearn for endless days of powder skiing. My fantasy is to be able to go helicopter skiing in untracked powder of British Columbia.
Question 8. 90% of us have had at least one surgery. I don't know who the lone soul that hasn't had a surgery. But God bless him for being so fortunate.
Question 9. Over many years we have made a plaque award to Greek Peak staff whom we most appreciate. No physical award this year but several people were identified as providing outstanding service from cleaning to lift loading to management. We like to encourage excellence at our home ski area.
Question 10. This was memory time for all those that have passed on to the moguls in the sky or have simply aged out of the sport they loved. We miss those friends with whom wet spent many companionable days on the slopes along with coffee breaks and lunches. If we were to compile a list of these bygone skiers it would likely add up to 30 to 40 individuals. This is a reminder we need to recruit the next generation of Tough Old Geezer Skiers.
We had our cake at the end of the lunch and we were happy to share a piece with a young lad of 5 or so who happened by our table in company of his mother. She was pleased to take a picture of the cake to share with her parents or maybe grandparents who were skiers in the geezer category. A delight to know that there a youngsters out there who will some day remember in their geezerhood a bunch of old guys having fun on the slopes.
It looks like we are done for the season. Much too early to suit me, but we will scatter to our off season activities and look forward to gathering again on the slopes in November! May global warming begin to be mitigated!
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| Great Tasting Marble Cake |
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| A Line Up of the Crew |
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| Cutting the Cake - Doing the Honors |
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
I Want a Handicap!
Over the last year or so I have become connected with a website Seniorsskiing.com. They have an interesting weekly news postings focused on issues for the over 50 skiers. The articles range from weather to equipment to history to accident and safety issues. In addition they also have recognition of skiers who ski more days than their age. For the 2018-2019 season I met that standard and was a recipient of their Trail Master Badge. Like a Boy Scout, I have tried to attach it to my jacket but haven't yet found the right glue.
As one might expect the criteria to get the badge becomes harder and harder as one gathers the years. At age 84 this season I am on schedule to make the required number of ski days tomorrow if I can tolerate the ugly conditions at my local ski slope. However, in the coming years it is going to be a challenge to meet the award criteria. In the sport of golf handicaps are awarded, so why not give those of us over eighty a handicap of adding some days from previous seasons when we were younger? I have kept of the days I ski for the last 22 years. For almost all of those years my ski days far exceeded my age. Some year in the future I plan to use those banked days when I simply don't have the get up and go to ski something like 90 days!
As one might expect the criteria to get the badge becomes harder and harder as one gathers the years. At age 84 this season I am on schedule to make the required number of ski days tomorrow if I can tolerate the ugly conditions at my local ski slope. However, in the coming years it is going to be a challenge to meet the award criteria. In the sport of golf handicaps are awarded, so why not give those of us over eighty a handicap of adding some days from previous seasons when we were younger? I have kept of the days I ski for the last 22 years. For almost all of those years my ski days far exceeded my age. Some year in the future I plan to use those banked days when I simply don't have the get up and go to ski something like 90 days!
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