So when we got ready to leave, I thought it might be fun to continue up the mountain and discover the back way into Palmerton. We asked for cursory directions, as we had absolutely no idea where we were going, and said our good-byes, and we were off on another mini-adventure. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful, and as we climbed up that mountain, our little Escort was working overtime and letting us know it was trying really hard to keep up with the gas we were feeding into its little carburetor. Jen was remarking about how all those leaves would soon be turning those red, yellow and brown colors, and how much she loved PA, when we came over the top of the mountain, and...
"OMG!!! It's the Blue Mountain Ski Resort!" Whoa! Is this where Annie and family come to ski? Why, it's in our back yard! I look over my shoulder as we cruise past the entrance, and a few minutes later, there's a ski lift! Looks kinda strange, with no snow surrounding it, but there it is. Now, I have never seen a ski lift, nor been near a ski resort, in all my 66 years! But being the adventurous guy that I am - I was into sky-diving, SCUBA diving, flying and alligator wrestling - my mind is now going into over-drive, and I can see myself, snow-boarding down the Black Diamond slopes, flying over those moguls (See? I've read up on this stuff already!), carving and free-stylin' with the best of them!
This has been on my unwritten bucket list for a long time now. Annie even promised me that she would take me skiing during one of our long-past Christmas vacations, but somehow it never happened. Will it happen now? Does a duck walk barefoot on the beach? You betcha! I am living almost at the base of this resort, and I will be on those slopes when the snow arrives! I may not end up buying my own board (for some reason, I'm not too keen on learning how to ski), boots, and the other assorted paraphernalia, but by golly, I'm going to give it my best shot! There are no more excuses - I live here, and I am going to enjoy the snow and the winter!
Now, I'm not exactly a wuss when it comes to this stuff. I can ice-skate, I can roller-blade, and I have been known to water-ski fairly well in the past. I ain't your standard Gomer here! Admittedly, I fell down once or twice in all of the aforementioned sports - doesn't everybody? And so I'm thinking that I'll probably fall down once or twice when I first try to snow-board. But then, it's snow, isn't it? That soft, fluffy white stuff? How much could it hurt to fall on my keester on snow? Uh, on my face??? Well, that might be a bit different. But look, Jack, I don't plan on falling down THAT much! And I know what you're thinking - how are you gonna get UP? Well, if I don't fall down, that's a moot point, isn't it?
I know, I know...I'll have to start on the "bunny slope!" And now I can see, in my mind's eye, all the seasoned schussers standing around, watching me crash and burn on the flippin' bunny slope! Geez! "Look, Ralph - another one of those Florida ya-hoos face-down in the mush!" Well, maybe I can train in my back yard, out of sight of the critics, and then show up and wow! 'em on that Black Diamond trail!
And then again, maybe I'll go sit at the lodge with a pair of binoculars and watch the other wanna-be's crash and burn on the bunny slope! And sip my hot cocoa and think about how smart I am! Yeah! That's the ticket!
(I am actually going to try this stuff in the coming winter. You can mail your get-well condolences to the local hospital in Palmerton, care of Alligator Gary. They'll know who I am!)
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