This
Saturday was Create Your Own Magical Winter Day. You could have a
sporty date on skis and skates, or a romantic stroll through a fairytale
forest, or a chance to get in touch with your inner child by snowman
making.
I opted for cross country skiing.
You
should have seen how I pushed myself with mighty strokes to slide
forward like a Nordic Goddess. You have to believe my story, because how
else would you know what really happened. The skiing trail was well
hidden between secret-keeping spruces and pines. Unless you understand
bird language or can decipher the whispers of wind, you have no one to
challenge my statement.
There
is no way I am telling you how I took the first turn wrong and ended up
next to log cabins instead of the trail. Nor will I share how I huffed
and puffed getting up a minute hill. I am not going to mention how I
came down the small slopes flapping my arms without a hope to fly. You
will never find out that I took off my skis when I got intimidated by
little curves on the declining trail. There is no visual evidence of the
sweat river running down my back nor a picture of my exhausted face as if I was skiing a
marathon instead of 3 kilometers. None of this will you find out.
I
went cross country skiing. I hit (at last) the perfect arm and leg
coordination, my heartbeat drummed with joy, and I finished the trail
with a broad smile on my face and pride radiating even from my ears. I
was as a Nordic Goddess.
* I wrote the draft of this slice originally in my journal while soaking
my feet in a hot mustard powder bath and sipping ginger-lemon-honey
drink.
I am really impressed! There was not a last time..I've never done it. Perhaps one day I will, but it sounds like I need to be in a little better shape when I do.
ReplyDeleteI have been known to take off my cross-country skiis as well, Terje (I speak bird language), so never fear, your secret is safe. You have such a wonderful tongue-in-cheek voice that I'm beginning to imagine you are writing a column for a newspaper where thousands chuckle at your words every morning. Just sayin'! Finally, congratulations on finishing the course and taking on the heavenly mantle!
ReplyDeleteTerje, this is so vivid! I can totally picture you on the skis! You also gave me an idea for a slice in March: our school's annual ski day--the only day of the year I tried to fake being sick:)
ReplyDeleteI love cross country skiing! Don't worry, you're not the only one who ends up with a "sweat river" down your back! Such a vivid and entertaining piece -- thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great voice in this piece! I have never skied cross country, it looks like so much work. I admire anyone who can do it. You have my admiration!
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad I will never know how you took a wrong turn and had to huff and puff, or the way you flapped your arms without hope of taking flight--because that sounds like a hilarious story that would make me giggle :) I guess I will just have to savor the "truth" and beautiful lines, the kind only a Nordic Goddess can write, like: Unless you understand bird language or can decipher the whispers of wind, you have no one to challenge my statement.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS! I was laughing at how similar my own story could have been written on Friday night! I hope you laughed as it was all unfolding. I hope that you ended the journey with a smaller, less painful, bruise than what I woke up with on Saturday morning! I wish you lived next door so we could give it another shot together!! Thanks for sharing, and what fun it was to read your creative style...
ReplyDeleteThe use of vivid verbs help me to visualize how this might have looked in real time...the description of the sweat river on your back especially made me think of what a workout you got...
ReplyDelete