Withdrawal! Anticipating the Next Season

     The ski season has wrapped up for me as I now approach my ninetieth birthday in April.  I has been a great year for me enjoying the slopes with renewed vigor after my previous seasons more abbreviated participation.  Sixty eight days is not a bad number and approaches the 77 day average for 25 years after my retirement.  

    Now I am in the mode of adjusting my daily routine from mornings on the slopes during the week to engaging in chores that have been put off.   I can also pick-on my fellow volunteers at the local museum and maybe I can also pick up on my Red Cross work as a Blood Ambassador at local blood drives.  

    April 12,  I will be celebrating my April 11 birthday at a part with a vast array of friends and family from many walks of life which of course includes an array of ski companions over many years.   What a wonderful honor and diversion to fill the void of weekly ski days.  As I contemplate what the future will bring, I was inspired to write a reflection on being ninety in the form of a free verse poem herein included.  I trust you will allow this poetic reflection as okay for this blog.

Courtesy on the Slopes

     I guess as one who has been on the slopes for over 60 years I have seen all kinds of behaviors of skiers in relation to their fellow skiers.   As I am now approaching my 90th birthday in a few weeks, I am keenly aware of how the behavior of other skiers on the slopes affect my comfort and safety.   Obviously I need to be a responsible skier too and hope that I am.

    Along this line of thinking I along with my friend Tim, often make observations of behavior that give us concern for our safety and, or our comfort.  We thus develop some pet peeves.   Here are a few of them.

1.  Stopping in the middle of the slope either singly or in groups and obstructing the passage of other skiers when one can stop on the side of the trail and provide clear sailing for the uphill skiers.

2.  Failure to give adequate space in passing us from the uphill side and startling you out of your rhythm.  I recognize there are times when the uphill skier may not have a choice, but often that is not so.

3.  Obstruction of the flow to the lift often happens without much thought of the other skiers.  A common courtesy would be to step out of the way for others while you have a confab with your companions.

Overall, I guess the above three points cover my major complaints.  I hope I don't come across as a curmudgeon.  However, I do want to avoid any mishaps on the slopes as much as possible since as a quite senior skier even though I have had many years on the slopes, I still have the fire of continuing into my 90's. 

Readers, I invite you to comment with your pet peeves about slope behaviors that annoy you.  Meanwhile, I wish all safe skiing as a novice to Geezerhood.