Hmmm…..my first ever blog……where do I start? My wife seems very concerned that I will somehow “mess” this up. Does she think I won’t take it serious? Or that I will sound like an idiot? Or that I will take digs at my darling Tracy? Now she should know better….I always deliver! Just ask her about how I have “nailed” all of the birthday, mother’s day, and Christmas gifts! (you may have read about the lawn chair).
I wasn’t sure what to blog about because I did not want to sound selfish. I’m still not sure where the nickname “Mikey Me” came from. However, after some thought, I have decided to write about the things I enjoy. Of course, family and friends do come first in my life, but we all have likes, passions, hobbies that get us through this world. For some it may be golf or watching football. For others it may be shopping or reading. We all have to have things that we enjoy to live life to the fullest and with me it is about being very active.
I have decided to nickname my portion of the me&t t&me blog:
WHY I DO WHAT I DO.
I have three things other than the truly important things that go with being a dad/husband that I enjoy doing and in this edition of my blog I will explain my favorite hobby. Maybe this will help our readers understand me more. Maybe this will allow my wife to appreciate me more. Maybe this will get me divorced (kidding).
My favorite hobby is:
SKIING
A few years ago I would not have said this. I began skiing when I was about 13 years old and I skied a little in high school and college, but outside of one ski trip with friends and Tracy each winter, I barely skied in my 20’s and early 30’s. This all began to change when Jack was about 6 or 7 that we started to ski more. Then, about 4 years ago we really got involved in weekend skiing with our friends. Now it is a passion that I love and I am pretty sure Jack feels the same. Matthew is in his 3rd year and little 4-year old Kate is very good for a first year skier. Tracy enjoys skiing too, (almost as much as she enjoys shopping for new ski outfits and goggles).
I find myself thinking about hitting the slopes not only in the winter but in the summer months. I wear my t-shirts from the various mountain resorts that we have been to even at 4th of July and Labor Day parties. There is nothing on this earth like “hitting the slopes”.
The drive to the mountain is exciting. Wondering what the conditions will be like: Will there be fresh powder? Will there be icy spots? Will it be crowded? Will it be another day or night that I will cherish forever? These entire questions zoom through my mind as Taylor Swift plays in the background (for some reason, she has become the entertainment of choice for our trips to the mountain).
The most difficult part involves getting ready when we arrive at the mountain. The more kids I have with me the more I lose my patience. However, it is amazing how I forget about the screaming and the “I will never do this again” quotes I unleash as Kate refuses to wear her head scarf or Matty says he wants to use the “claw” in the arcade before we even get on the lift. These are all forgotten because when I get on top of that mountain and move the tips of my skis to the edge of a trail I am reminded of what a beautiful world we live in. It doesn’t matter to me whether it is the Rocky Mountains of Summit County Colorado, or the Green Mountains of southern Vermont, or the foothills of the Pocono Mountains at Blue Mountain…..I take a deep breath of the cold fresh air and just close my eyes for a second. Then I open up, enjoy the precious view, clap my poles together and GOOOOOOOO!
I love speed and there is nothing faster on land without an engine than flying down a mountain on skies. I love carving my mark in the corduroy of the freshly groomed snow. I also love the deep powder on the edge of the trails or the China Bowl at Vail (Tracy knows I was kidding last year when I stood over the China Bowl and said #3—my wedding day, #2—the birth of my children, #1—skiing powder up past your knees in the China bowl!). I cannot forget about the bumps. Moguls are a challenge, but fun, especially when the temperatures warm up in the spring and they get soft. I also love the jumps. I probably should not be getting into “big air” as I push 40, but to feel, even if it is for only a few seconds, like I am floating in the air gives me a fix that many people need drugs and alcohol to accomplish.
Another great part about skiing is the “postgame”. I love going to Pizza Como after Blue Mt. to share good times with family and friends as I chow down on a California Cheeseburger with mushrooms. I chuckle as Matty bugs me for another dollar to play the video game. Jack and his friends take up their own table and brag about their “big” accomplishments on the slopes earlier. I love going to Deegans Tavern near Mt. Snow to share the same “after-ski” good times. And I love sitting in a hot tub at 9,000 feet above sea level in the middle of the Rocky Mountains w/ my wife and friends talking about our kids, hopes, and dreams.
Yes I love skiing. It is my favorite hobby and the greatest part of it is that I can share it with my friends and family and God willing, I will be able to continue doing so for a very long time.
Tune in soon for part 2 of Why I do What I do.
Thanks me&t t&me,
Love,
Mikey Me
Stratton, VT (2009)
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