Cold Falling

Don't knock it if you haven't tried it!

That must have been my reasoning, why, when Tanesha asked me to accompany her to Hiroshima on a skiing mission I said yes, of course I was not thinking. I have more than enough reasons why I should have said no, the most obvious being I am not the most athletic person- not in this world or even in the confines of friends and family.

And we don't go skiing in JA.

Anyway, we departed on an allnight BUS- yes I said it, BUS not a Shinkansen and not on a flight, but being the sport I am, I along with 40 Japanese ski/snowboarding lovers, we bundled into our "unentertained" bus at 10pm.

I was out pretty much out after the first rest stop, and having a restful sleep when I was rudely awaken at 5:30 or was it 3, and set down with skis,luggage in snow and sublevel temperatures. At that moment I understood the urge to put on all of my luggage to keep warm. At that hour there were people on the slope skiing and skating! I got in and found a spot and woke up at 10-a reasonable hour.

Tackling the skiis I was provided with would have been funny if it was not so serious, so I explained that those were above and beyond my abilities and with boldness exchanged them for the baby (3 year- old) version. And with baby steps I tried to walk and one step led to another fall and another fall , but I got up and tried to land on my ass again.

By day two, I was sliding across the the slope, note I did not say skiing down. I had managed to walk, to stride and even to get to the first gradient along with some other 3-5 year olds and to make my way down landing safely on my padded behind.

I guess, its not my kind of sport (not that there is my kind) but being outdoors, one with nature, feeling the cold breeze across your face and realising that if you land on your ass even if you have to remove your skis to get up...you can get up! I did it...now I can knock it!