Today I am typing this as I sit in the Oakland airport waiting to board a flight to Salt Lake City. I'm meeting up with my friend Cynthia for a few days of skiing in Park City. I've known Cynthia since our daughters were in kindergarten together more than 15 years ago. We became good friends by being Girl Scout leaders together, rollerblading, skiing, and doing crafts together. Her husband and my husband became good friends, as did all our sons and daughters. Since she moved to Connecticut a few years back I haven't gotten to see her as much as I'd like. I especially miss her as a fun skiing and rollerblading buddy.
Cynthia is the person that actually helped get me into rollerblading. She and I got skates at about the same time and started going together on the Lafayette Moraga trail and then on the Iron Horse trail. She had a good strategy that resonated with me--she said that she tried to learn one new thing every year. That way, as the years go by, she would have tried numerous new activities that she otherwise would never have attempted. I'm lucky rollerblading was her new thing that one year, because it turned out to be one of my greatest passions.
A few weeks ago she sent me a link to her new website/blog. She is a talented artist and is now sharing her gift with the world. Seeing her new website made me realize how much I miss her and especially how fun it would be to ski with her again. We managed to cobble together a quick trip to Utah for just the two of us. I predict much fun and many laughs. I haven't skied for a few years, so I hope I remember how!
Here is a link to her website/blog. Check out her beautiful art work. The painting below is one of her Utah paintings. Sure makes me excited to ski there!
A number of years ago I switched from regular skis to shorties. They are only 100cm long (40 inches) and you don't use poles with them. They are so short that I actually managed to pack them into my suitcase rather than a ski bag. Once I switched to the shorties, I have never gone back to regular skis. The thing I like about the shorties is that I feel so free when I ski on them. It reminds me so much of inline skating. I am hoping that my regular rollerblading has put me in good shape to get back skiing. I'm afraid that Cynthia will ski me into the ground!
In any event, I realize how lucky I am to have gotten these 5 days away from my regular routine to go off and do something totally fun. I'll keep you posted and share a few pictures of two hot mamas skiing!
Keep skating (or skiing or whatever you do)!
Warmly,
Nancie ♥
Nancie Zimmerman
NamiZuni Jewelry Design
My last skate:
1/25/13
Skate #28 of 200
Iron Horse Trail 6.18 mi
Post trip addendum:
Cynthia and I had a fantastic time skiing, eating, hot tubbing, chatting, more eating, and generally having a great time catching up. She was a thoughtful and attentive host. I felt like I stayed at a swanky bed and breakfast inn!
The biggest surprise to me came from realizing that I still did know how to ski, and, even better, that my rollerblading had paid off big time. My legs did not get to the "jello" stage until late in the third day of skiing after numerous runs, many of them either mogul runs, black diamond, or both. It cracked me up that Cynthia kept referring to our trip as "Nancie's Ski Boot Camp" but the reality is that we are very closely matched as skiers and she pushed me as much as I pushed her.
I did have kind of a nasty fall the second day, prompting me to invest in a ski helmet. I bruised some ribs pretty badly but luckily it didn't keep me from skiing the next day and it hasn't kept me from rollerblading upon my return home.
This trip was the highlight of my year! Thanks, Cynthia! Again, here's her website and blog. Check it out:
Cynthia's website
Cynthia & Nancie:
