Time for reflection. Normal number of days so far (30ish). Below average satisfaction level. Now, with crappy snow in New England, my western trips in the books, and the Toyota Corona virus casting a pall over all, it's looking like the earliest end to my season in years.
What changes, if any, do I want to make for next year, should such a thing emerge from the other side of the current apocalypse? Well, I can think of several. Chief among them is more time with my ski friends from the land of Pug.
This year I missed out on some formal and informal Gathering days, for a variety of circumstantial reasons. I'm feeling the loss. I need the little push from y'all in terms of terrain and technique. I have new or at least revived appreciation for the fact that Pugs don't generally subject me to endless shouted discussions in the wind at the top of a frigid mountain about whether such-and-such proposed run is a blue or a black. (Who the eff cares? Let's get out of here!) I miss the common understandings we accumulate together, which therefore don't have to be explained tiresomely on the hill.
I miss the predictable and jolly financial irresponsibility of Pugs who have spent a day on the slopes. Rarely have I met one who routinely says, in response to a proposal for a slopeside après-ski beer, "Nah. Let's just wait until we get home. We have the rest of that twelve pack of Narragansett that Billy bought, remember? Drafts are frickin' six dollars here! Can you believe that shit?" Entirely rational point of view. Entirely rational, and entirely demoralizing to endorphin-high donkeys like me, buzzing with memories of steep tree alleys off the Wildcat lift mere minutes before.
In short, I'm just not ready.
Unfortunately powerlessness is the fundamental human condition, in the end. So rather than spit into the wind, I will just quietly list the names of many of the Pugs I am missing right now. I am certain to leave out a bunch. Apologies in advance for that. Don't take it personally; I'm just flawed like everyone. But look. Look how long that list is. Lucky me. Seriously.
@mdf
@Rainbow Jenny
@cosmoliu
@Needham
@JohnL
@Gary Stolt
@aveski
@SKI-3PO
@Jim Kenney
@Lady_Salina
@KevinF
@Josh Matta
@KingGrump
@A Grump
@Uncle Louie
@Sandy_NYC
@Pumba
@Jerez
@luliski
@James
@SBrown
@Chris Geib
@SkiNurse
[Draghtguy Kevin - didn't tag him because he would barf]
@FairToMiddlin
@bbinder
@margaritamarcia
@Noodler
@Unpiste
@Near Nyquist
@Weegie McAdams
@bigguyski
@ScottB
@LiquidFeet
@Philpug
@Tricia
@Dean
@Jimski
@MattSmith
@DanoT
@TheArchitect
@dbostedo
@MaryG
@jimmy
@Johnny V.
What changes, if any, do I want to make for next year, should such a thing emerge from the other side of the current apocalypse? Well, I can think of several. Chief among them is more time with my ski friends from the land of Pug.
This year I missed out on some formal and informal Gathering days, for a variety of circumstantial reasons. I'm feeling the loss. I need the little push from y'all in terms of terrain and technique. I have new or at least revived appreciation for the fact that Pugs don't generally subject me to endless shouted discussions in the wind at the top of a frigid mountain about whether such-and-such proposed run is a blue or a black. (Who the eff cares? Let's get out of here!) I miss the common understandings we accumulate together, which therefore don't have to be explained tiresomely on the hill.
I miss the predictable and jolly financial irresponsibility of Pugs who have spent a day on the slopes. Rarely have I met one who routinely says, in response to a proposal for a slopeside après-ski beer, "Nah. Let's just wait until we get home. We have the rest of that twelve pack of Narragansett that Billy bought, remember? Drafts are frickin' six dollars here! Can you believe that shit?" Entirely rational point of view. Entirely rational, and entirely demoralizing to endorphin-high donkeys like me, buzzing with memories of steep tree alleys off the Wildcat lift mere minutes before.
In short, I'm just not ready.
Unfortunately powerlessness is the fundamental human condition, in the end. So rather than spit into the wind, I will just quietly list the names of many of the Pugs I am missing right now. I am certain to leave out a bunch. Apologies in advance for that. Don't take it personally; I'm just flawed like everyone. But look. Look how long that list is. Lucky me. Seriously.
@mdf
@Rainbow Jenny
@cosmoliu
@Needham
@JohnL
@Gary Stolt
@aveski
@SKI-3PO
@Jim Kenney
@Lady_Salina
@KevinF
@Josh Matta
@KingGrump
@A Grump
@Uncle Louie
@Sandy_NYC
@Pumba
@Jerez
@luliski
@James
@SBrown
@Chris Geib
@SkiNurse
[Draghtguy Kevin - didn't tag him because he would barf]
@FairToMiddlin
@bbinder
@margaritamarcia
@Noodler
@Unpiste
@Near Nyquist
@Weegie McAdams
@bigguyski
@ScottB
@LiquidFeet
@Philpug
@Tricia
@Dean
@Jimski
@MattSmith
@DanoT
@TheArchitect
@dbostedo
@MaryG
@jimmy
@Johnny V.
