Snowcapades

March is typically the most beautiful time of year here is Florida, the temperature is about as perfect as it could be, the humidity is low, breezes are blowing and the surf is calm so beach days are a must. Any outdoor activity can be planned even if it's just front porch sitting since the sun is shining and it's just too pretty to not be outside enjoying it!
The northerners have been coming since January when the thrill of a "white Christmas" was well worn off, for a break from the harsh winter weather every long weekend the calendar offers and even if the calendar doesn't, they are desperate for relief. So why when everyone else is clamoring to get to the warmth and sunshine here would this crazy group of Floridians plan a trip to the cold snowy north?
As I packed my bags with thick, dark, polyester and nylon, pants, turtlenecks, socks, boots, gloves and coats, I resented a bit that I was leaving cotton, sleeveless, shorts, sundresses and flip flops behind. It didn't seem right, just when the days were extended with daylight savings time I was choosing to extend them in the cold mountains wearing bulky cumbersome layers of clothes that make crunchy scratchy noises with each step and cause static electricity shocks with every touch, combined with fly away hair, and chapped lips. Did I really want to do this? Yeah, yeah, I really did!
It was about a 20 hour drive in 2 vehicles with 19 people at the peak of the trip. We stayed in a 3 story house that had a deck with a hot tub overlooking the slopes. We could shuttle in or ski to the village where shops and restaurants offered souvenirs, hot beverages at Starbucks and a couple of outside fire places to sip by. We were at the "top of the world" where the sunrises and sunsets and everything in between was beautifully visible. My camera and I spent a lot of time together as the beauty was recorded for future pleasure.
We had rain one day which seemed odd to me since that was the day my hands were so cold, it wasn't even cold enough to snow, but it was very windy. That night the rain turned to snow, big beautiful flakes continued to come down over a couple hours time resulting in a fresh fluffy untracked layer that we found necessary to track up! Out of the hot tub and into the snow wearing nothing but swim shorts for a snow angel, out into the night under the street lights for some photos by the pine trees snow laden branches and our fresh footprints, the only ones.
One whole day we were in a cloud that looked like thick fog, it was hard to see where you were headed but it added an element of mystery that didn't keep anyone from going anyway! I had a ski lesson that day, a gift from my son, so I just followed my leader. We were advised that a lesson would be a good idea and it absolutely was. The information the instructor gave was immensely helpful, I would not have had any success at all without it, though the success I did have, barely qualifies as success!
The final day at the mountain was a sunny blue sky day with temps rising into the 50's, we played in the snow without coats and gloves, a couple guys wore only shorts and t-shirts! That was incredible to me, I was born and raised in the north, I know the treachery of winters with snow and cold that makes life unbearable, but somehow there as we played in the snow under the sunny skies and in the warm air, we were completely comfortable. Even I shed my gloves, that is remarkable, I get cold hands in the middle of a Florida summer when I'm in the air conditioning and have to go sit in the hot car to get the chill out of my bones! It was such a pleasure to enjoy a variety of winter weather conditions up there on the top of the world!
One might think that there would be some friction or personality clashes, when sharing a home with people you don't normally live with, sharing bathrooms, dining together, cozying together in bedrooms, but there was none, we all co-habitated nicely, in fact sharing the time and space together was one of the most special treats.
One of the big girls didn't really want to be out on the slopes so she invested some of her time each day to prepare meals for all the hungry skiers and snowboarders. When we all returned at the end of the day there was a hot meal ready that was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
In the evening we went to the village or played games, or just enjoyed a relax around the fireplace, or in the hot tub soothing sore muscles.
All of our injuries occurred the first day, maybe the result of overly aggressive maneuvers, but fortunately were fairly minor and could be lived with as taking to the slopes continued unhindered!
As always when I have a camera full of pictures, I'm excited to get them on my home computer screen to see them enlarged hoping that the shots are clear and have captured as best they could the beauty and good times experienced. I was mostly not disappointed though pictures don't do justice to the beauty, and they can't accurately portray the details of the good times, but looking at them now and whenever I do, they'll remind of the moments that stood out for me. When we get together with the others who were on the trip we'll talk about those moments and share what stood out for each of us individually and maybe even be a little surprised at what that was, we all enjoyed it from our own perspectives.
I'm going to print a few of my photos and frame them for the wall of my freshly painted "spare" room, where the souvenir pillow cover will adorn the rooms chair. That room is where I intend to spend time reading, writing, crafting, and thinking. It will have things in it that remind me of the fullness of life, the fun times spent together with family and friends, photos of the people and places that make me smile. It will be my new "happy place".
Why would anyone want to leave the warm sunny March days of Florida to go where everyone else is trying to get an escape from? Because my son asked, "you want to go Mom?", and before I could talk sense into myself I said yes! It was my March's 2011 out of the ordinary something to do and I had a blast doing something I'd never tried before, with a group of people who's company I enjoyed creating unforgettable experiences including 3 single and 1 married couple of my grown kids who were able to go along, I got to see the beauty in nature that I had not seen in years and I have the pictures to prove it! I'm glad I didn't give myself time to talk myself out of it, and I'm glad I thought big and positive buying lift tickets for myself for all 3 days! I'm glad I didn't miss it!
Why would anyone pass up an opportunity like that?!

A little knowledge goes a long way
as my ski lesson proved today,
by the end of it I skied like a pro,
who'da thunk?! who'da known?!

I zig zagged, swerved and got some air,
felt winter wind in my hair,
my mad skills amazed the crowd, who exclaimed
"look at her go, for cryin' out loud"!

My hands and feet never even got cold,
even my temperature was under control.
I got the last lift ride to the top
for double black diamonds treacherous drops

which led me right to my front door,
it had to end, though I wanted more.
Wouldn't it be cool, wouldn't it be fun
if every first timer could "get her done"?!

But most of 'em can't, it's too hard you see,
turns out it's too hard even for me,
I made all this up just to look cool,
the only true part is I went to ski school.

But I did manage to stay up on my feet,
except for the times I wound up on my seat.
Still, thanks to Jams and my teacher Steve,
I like skiing, I'll do it again I believe!