Old Dogs

Can you teach them new tricks? I've recently tried to do something really challenging and new for the first time at the age of forty-cough something. Learning to ski is a lot like learning a new language: easier the younger you are.  With gusto and enthusiasm I joined the kids in their ski lessons then off we set down the slopes en masse with extended family.  

Fear is too milder word to encompass my overriding experience of skiing over the next three days.  Such was the terror that every fibre in my body screamed at my brain, I can only liken it to the final stages of childbirth.  I certainly blubbed like I did in labour.   But continue I did, aided by vin chaud (hot red wine) at regular intervals.  Thank god it is now over, until next time (I am told). The kids of course picked it up straight away and left me in a puff of powder after the first day.

The actual going-downhill-on-slippery-sticks bit of skiing aside, it has all been beautiful and we are lucky little vegemites to be here. This old dog might have learnt some new tricks, but she sure needs a lot of treats to do them.

This picture is my overriding impression of skiing.

Maybe one day, like people who like skiing, I will only remember the good bits.