"I Ski Better Than I Walk"

     In a recent newsletter about Senior Skiing over 50+  I read about a lady who suffers from cerebral palsy saying exactly what I wrote as the title for this piece.  She was skiing with a friend and when asked about her experience with the disease, the quote above was her response. It particularly struck me in the heart since that is exactly where I am in my journey with an arthritic back. Right now I struggle with the walk out to the lodge and the walk out to the slopes.  Frankly, though I don't want to admit it, it sometimes hurts like hell!  However, when I click into the bindings and get to the lift, all that pain disappears. I am so grateful that I still have the chops to ski with some modicum of grace.  There has been some decline in my skills and I know enough to predominantly ski the blues and greens but overall life on the slopes is a ball.

    I am quite sure there are many octogenarians and nonagenarians out there who are experiencing the same or other challenges as well. In conversation with some of them I often hear of ills that they carry with them and overcome them when they hit the slopes.  One never knows the complete story of each persons life story.  Thankfully we find ways to struggle through our setbacks and keep on chugging along.  Every day one can encounter new challenges that throw your for a loop.  Hopefully one can muster up the resilience to deal with them.  I am trying to embrace that advice as I close this blog today.  

    Having had some medical issues, I am in a quandary whether I will qualify for my driver's license renewal in April of this year.  The thought of losing the freedom of driving has been a challenge.  So, with the help of my dear wife, I will either get a renewal or learn to cope with my transportation needs.  Good news is that my wife has promised to drive me to the ski area as needed!  What a relief!

Life Stories

    In conversation with my wife today after a day of skiing I related to her a summary of many encounters with people on the lift rides.  Normally I am riding with a couple of buddies but today was essentially a solo day for me.  Thus I had a chance to chat with a lot on new people. I often laugh with my wife about the six minute interviews I do with my new companions, the approximate lift ride time. This leads to the revelation that both my main summer and winter activities expose me to a multitude of life stories!  Winter on the lift is the one venue and being a guide docent at a local museum is the other venue for people sharing their life stories one way or another. It is a wonderful gift to me to hear a tremendous variety of experiences of people all over the United State and even the world.

    As a skier now approaching his 91st birthday I am considered somewhat harmless and people seem happy to open up to me.  With a few strategic questions the new companions open up to me almost as if I am a counselor!  Often the skiers wonder at my longevity on the slopes and ask me what my "secret" is. Truthfully there is no secret except to remind everyone that much of it is unexpected good fortune plus having  physical and social activities. Everyone you might encounter has an enriching life story to tell if you are a good listener.  This will enrich your life and give you a broad perspective of what it is to journey through this life on earth.  

To my readers, I wish you great opportunities to hear a multitude of life stories from the strangers that you encounter.  Just listening can be entertaining and sometime healing for both of you. Each day is an adventure on the slopes both in the social and physical sense.  Savor it since no one knows what the next day will bring.

 

On Being Thankful Every Day

    This Friday I completed my 22nd day on the slopes for the 2025-2026 season.  After five days in a row my 90 plus body welcomes a weekend of rest and recuperation.   So I think it is appropriate that I do a bit of reflecting on how fortunate I am to still be skiing and beyond that being thankful for each day of existence I have.

    Here are a few of the things of thankfulness for just being a geezer and still enjoying downhill skiing with companions often 20 or 30 years younger.   I am thankful today for the memory of the first day of this season when I felt tentative about hitting the slopes.  Miraculously when I took the first run on the beginner's slope I had the immediate rush that I can still do this!  On top of that, I knew I would be back in the groove as the day proceeded and on into the season.   Thankfully that is continuing to be true.    While I am often tempted to explore the Black Diamonds and even go into the woods, I am thankful to have accepted there are limits to the risks I should take.   As someone in my circle has said, there is still a 16 year old mind in us that tells us to go for it.  Therefore, I am thankful for the wisdom of age that controls those impulses.

    Beyond the thrill and pleasure of being on the slopes, I am truly thankful for a circle of wonderful friends, family and spouse!  The literature I read about super aging points out the great value of socialization for longevity. While skiing and working out contributes to healthy living for super seniors, it is essential that the mind remains exercised too.  So I close with the thankfulness that I have my suite of daily puzzles that hopefully keeps me sharp. The New York Times Spelling Bee puzzle is probably my favorite and lately I have been able to reach Queen Bee status for several times. Believe it or not, I have the joy of doing the puzzle sometimes with my five year old grandson Finn!  Another thing to be thankful for!

To my readers, I wish you all the best in finding multiple things to be thankful for.