Keeping Up With Dave

Wow, I thought, look at them go. As they got closer and closer to the base of the mountain and the lodge, I recognized the most daring snowboarder of the pack—it was my really cute boyfriend. My heart sank a little bit, realizing that I had to step up and really learn how to snowboard, if I wanted to spend time with Dave. So I threw out the rest of my coffee and breakfast, and headed out the door. My lesson was beginning in a few minutes. 

Forgoing fashion for comfort, I wrapped an extra fleece pullover around my ass before putting my snow pants on. With hand warmers in each boot and glove, I was ready for my lesson. For an hour I learned how to fall—not the graceful way, but the safe way.  And I fell. Over and over and over again. Every time I got up on the board, I was sure to fall a few seconds later. After the lesson ended, I stayed in the same spot and simply tried to stand without falling. It took me another hour to accomplish this. Then it was lunchtime. I was cold, hungry, and beaten up. 

I met Dave in the lodge and we sat down to eat lunch. I had another cup of coffee. He asked me about my lesson and I lied, telling him that I was now able to go down a slope without falling. He became excited, and concluded we could go up to the top of the mountain together the next morning. I must have turned white, because the next thing Dave said was not to worry, because he wouldn’t leave my side. Great. My really cute boyfriend was going to hover over me, as I crawled down Gore Mountain, on my ass. So I told him that I wanted to practice that afternoon—a lot. Then I threw out the rest of my coffee and lunch, and headed out the door. It was time to practice.

For three hours I dragged my board up a gentle slope and tried to snowboard down without falling. At the very moment I had finally accomplished this, Dave appeared, nearly knocking me over. He had been spying on me the whole time, and when at last he saw me manage a few feet without falling down, he came over immediately to congratulate me. Somewhere in the middle of the hugs and kisses, he told me I was ready for the big ski lift, and I foolishly agreed. That night we snuggled by the fireplace in a cozy restaurant, and everything seemed right. I knew my snowboarding skills were up to the challenge, and I could take on whatever the mountain would throw at me.