In the early to mid 60’s, my girl friend of 4 years and I got to know each other real well and she decided something more stimulating than going to the movies or some unknown upscale bar we discovered within 5 miles of her house.
My future bride decided we should go ice skating at a nearby mall.
After buying the ice skates, We picked a night during the week to skate, hoping that the rink wouldn’t be crowded.
She was a very good skater; I was not.
Every time I attempted to skate, my ankles gave out and I was literally skating on the outside of me ankles!
It was painful and I had to “heal” for a few weeks, after which she suggested we should go roller skating as our next activity.
The roller skating boots ( bought new) weren’t supportive enough for me, either.
I gave up skating forever.
My skates were proudly displayed in the window of thrift store in my home town.
I just knew, before hand, these two sporting activities would cause me pain but I didn’t have the courage to mention it to my girlfriend.
She refused to give up on me.
We went to the Snow house to buy everything needed to enjoy skiing, which turned out to be terrifying “sport” for me.
I knew it would be terrifying, watching the great ski resorts advertisements on TV!
I realized after going to the ski resorts with her, she just wanted life long skiing buddy to go with her.
Also, There was the entertainment factor when we went together.
I drove us to my first skiing venue in Monticello, New York . She was the smallest one and ideal for beginners, which didn’t quell my inherent fear of the sport.
She recommended the beginners slope for me, after I learned the does and don’t from her.
Ten feet down the slope my legs spread and all layers of cloth between my legs ripped open. It was very cold to say the least. With her help I ended up at the top of the slope , with my skis at the bottom of the little hill.
I asked to buy a lot of safety pins at the register of the ski shop. The lady taking my order asked what I needed them for. My quiet explanation caused a ripple of laughter through out the shop.
I had to wait about an hour for a young man returned with the pins.
I was in the mens room for an eternity, carefully pining each layer, since I had work by feel not sight.
When I left the mens room, I was treated to clapping, cat calls, and at-a-boys from the patrons waiting for me. Some people thought I was a hero since the temperature out side was zero degrees and the bathroom had no heat to speak of!
My future bride had a cup of hot soup waiting for me. Every time we went skiing she brought along a faux leather bag holding two thermos of Lipton chicken noodle soup.
The episode reared itself years later. My wife conned me use a chair lift to take us to a terrible high ski slope wonders of nature. When I got off the life, we walked a distance away and stood taking in the beauties of nature; blowing snow, cold temperature, and silence. This was one one way she talked to God. If you experienced a thought in return, God was talking to you. I now firmly believe that. God talked back to her by making her recall more safety pin adventure with to much laughter.
Anyway, when our daughter could traverse the ski slopes, I watched then ski together, for the first and decided to hide in lodge. Rather than one, I had two fearless skier to worry about; no slope was to big for them.
There came a time and the last time they skied together , Carole complained that our daughter was to reckless.
I am of the opinion the my wife called a halt to skiing, because Lisa was a better skier .
These days, at night, we watch the Hallmark where there’s nothing life threatening to report and there is a happy ending.