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snowboarding? Artboy has been wanting to take me snowboarding ever since we met, so a couple months ago, when he broached the subject with me, I felt like I could no longer find an excuse not to go. My hips are feeling good...there was plenty of snow in Flag...so I agreed. He looked at his work schedule and decided we could go in March. He wanted to go during the second weekend of March, but I had a stamp class. The following weekend was my brother's birthday. But there wasn't anything going on the following weekend, so I agreed to go. Really, hoping that the snow would melt by then. :) I've watched snowboarding and skiing, found it interesting, but have never wanted to do it myself. The idea of strapping a board to my feet and going down a mountain terrified me. But the weather did not cooperate. And in fact, the weekend before we were to leave, it decided to dump a bunch more snow on the mountain. Oh joy! So I bought the gear I couldn't borrow, rented the snowboard and boots, and Thursday after work, I headed up to Flag to meet Artboy and his brother, who had driven up earlier that day. We drove up the mountain on Friday, arriving at about noon. My lesson was to begin at 1pm, so Artboy took me to the bunny hill, which I was relieved to find wasn't really a hill in my opinion..just a very gentle slope. He helped me put on my snowboard, got me standing, and took my hands and helped me go forward a bit. I went faster than I had expected, got freaked out, and fell on my butt. And sat there and cried the first of many tears that day. By then, it was time for the lesson, so I went to where I was supposed to meet for the lesson. Very anxious. There were about 24 of us waiting to take a lesson, and we broke up into two groups. It became apparent to me that I wasn't going to pick this up very quickly. There were two of us in our group who were really struggling. I was so freaked out, I had a very difficult time snow plowing. I ended up on my butt a lot...and ended up hurting my index and middle finger and straining my wrist, which made it difficult to get up. :) Another instructor came by and could see that Carla and I were really struggling, so he sent us over to where the kids learn and he gathered four others. And the six of us worked on it. I had a brief moment where I did awesome, but I couldn't recapture that. An hour into the lesson, I was so warm, I took off my jacket. And I was exhausted, climbing back up the hill with that board strapped to my leg. I knew I was out of shape, but it was so apparent on the hill. I was frustrated, but just kept at it. Near the end of the lesson, we went on the lift. The instructor, who was oh so patient, told us what to do...what not to do...and when it was my turn to get on the lift, i was looking over my inside shoulder like I was supposed to, and realized, too late, that I wasn't over to the middle enough, and the next thing I knew, I was on my knees, the lift having mowed me over. Knowing that another chair was coming, I tried to get up as quickly as I could, but I stepped on my board, twisted my knee, and landed hard on it. And then the lift operator started yelling at me to get up, and I yelled back that i was doing the best that I could, that I'd just hurt my knee, so back off. I managed to pick myself up and made it onto the chair. The woman who I was supposed to sit with, turned around and asked me if I was okay, and I just nodded yes. And started to cry again. I've never felt so frustrated, and then after that, I had very little left. Carla had already told the instructor that she was throwing in the towel and would be walking back to the lodge once we got off the lift. I was determined not to do that. I was determined to finish. And I did. At the bottom of the hill, I thanked the instructor for being so patient and encouraging. And he told me that I had it...I really had it. I just needed to have more confidence. And told me what I could work on. I walked back to the lodge and called Artboy to have him pick me up. And dissolved into tears once he got me. I felt completely defeated, physically exhausted and freaked out. Not my finest hour. :) Artboy felt awful because he felt like he made me do it. I told him it was my choice to agree to go...if I really didn't want to do it, I could have said no. Yes, he did beg me to go. But I knew I didn't want to do it and I could have just said, "no, but you go and enjoy." I found out later, that his brother felt bad also...tho why, I'm not sure. He had nothing to do with it. :) I told the guys that they could go ahead and snowboard to their heart's content, and I would either sit at the lodge, or drive around Flag. They decided they didn't want to snowboard on Sat...they were tired...so we went out and made a snowman -- my very first one!!--and hung out downtown. Artboy bought me this paper star light that I now have hanging from the ceiling over my desk in the office...it's beautiful all lit up. Jess and her boyfriend drove up on Saturday night and we went to Beaver Street for dinner. The guys went snowboarding again on Sunday, and I decided to sit at the lodge. I watched people come down the hill for awhile. It was funny...I didn't see one skier fall down...but plenty of snowboarders biffed it. :) There was a Jesus snowboarder too (it was Easter weekend). After awhile, I went inside the lodge to watch tv and read. Near closing time, Jess and her boyfriend came in, and she threw her glove at me--hit my head and disappeared before I could see what happened. We all met for dinner again, and then drove home. I told the guys I might try again once I'm in better shape. |