Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Check Another One Off

Day #2 of skiing was a bit different.  We woke up to snow and clouds.
It snowed off and on all day long.  In spite of that, on the first run up the lift I skiied a green bowl that I love.  I was one of the first skiers up there.  (I can't tell you how many of my runs in the last two days have been in quiet solitude.  Someone looking out for me?)
I wasn't the only person at the bowl.  In fact, a couple of us exchanged cameras and took pictures for each other.
It was freezing cold and snowing.  In fact, snow was blowing pretty good, but it didn't matter. I was skiing!  Five years ago I was afraid I would never get to do this again.
And not only could I ski; but I could bike 20+ miles, run a 5K, and tackle almost anything.  Marge over at Soeurs Du Jour knows this:  Sometimes the curve balls life throws at us-- give us a whole new perspective.  And that is a blessing worth celebrating.
To top it off, my little baby sister turned 50 yesterday.  To celebrate her birthday and my return to skiing, I drank a lemon drop martini in her honor.  (Well, after the whiteout drove me off the mountain!  By the way-- I am not a fan of martinis!)  Happy Birthday, Sis!  Who knew that 50 wouldn't look that bad to me?  Every birthday is worth celebrating.  Some things I know for sure. 

After I talked to Dad to let him know that I was OK--that I had survived skiing, I checked the last thing off my post-stroke bucket list. 

You might be asking how I did that?  At "Ollie's Pub and Grub" in Frisco I signed a dollar bill.  One of the waiters put a tack through the dollar, put a quarter on the other side, folded and soaked the dollar bill, and threw it onto the wooden ceiling.  It stuck.  When the dollar dries out, the quarter will fall.  My dollar will be with all the other dollars-- stuck to the ceiling.  The waiter told me that was a way of leaving my mark....

Actually, I can think of about a million other ways I'd like to leave my mark. BUT...there is a dollar that says "Stroke Survivor" on a ceiling of "Ollies."  We'll call that good for now!

5 comments:

katie (Can't Get There) said...

I am so proud of you and happy for you, my friend, that you have tackled everything on your list. I can't wait to help you celebrate everything you think to put on your next list. (Maybe a Grandmotherin' list?)

A said...

CONGRATS!! I am so happy for you and inspired by you! What a way to take hold of life and LIVE! So happy to hear the slopes were absolutely perfect & you had such a wonderful time skiing!! Enjoy the rest of your break! :)

Ragamuffin Gal said...

Mrs. E. ~ Oh how I delighted in reading this post! I could just see you in the words you wrote doing all of this and then, there you are skiing in a yellow (of course) jacket! You are an inspiration to all of us (just barely) over 50 gals who are not finished with life yet! I love your attitude!
Blessings my friend ~ Katie

Sharon Rose said...

Now that is something to celebrate! Congratulations Mrs. E!

Mary said...

That yellow jacket looks great! Really cool about the dollar!