Again my apologies as computer trouble has allowed me limited access.
Again I thank the large and lovely ladies who fuel my imagination and make writing these stories so... satisfying.
I enjoy hearing from you, so keep the fan mail coming. Thanks to those who have sent pictures but please keep in mind that I do not open attachments. Pictures must be inserted into the e-mail body.
Hope you enjoy and that you think of me fondly as you do!!
PART 1
Fourteen inches of freshly fallen snow up in the mountains, and I was totally prepared for a week-end of cruising and schussing the slopes. Not to mention the lodge bar after a long day. Come to think of it, the night life, after a day of skiing, was just what the doctor ordered.
I spent all week perusing the ski shops ensuring that my gear was top notch. I was sparing no expense. I was going to own the slopes.
PART 2
Probably the first inkling that my skiing career was going to be short-lived was when the instructor advised me that I was going to be assigned to "Lollipop Run." I guess asking which ski pole was the right one, and which the left, caused him some concern.
After about thirty minutes of basic instruction, predominately how to "snow-plow" and the correct way to fall, the instructor cut me loose.
No sweat. A few minutes with the kids and I knew I'd be ready to tackle "The Bowl." I think I even pictured myself ski jumping for the National team. I even wondered who would do the interview on TV.
Thirty seconds into my inaugural run I found out some very interesting things about snow and skiing.
ONE. When you stand on snow in boots, snow is not very slippery. When you stand on snow in skis, it is VERY slippery.
TWO. You should never ski straight down the slope. If you ski straight down the slope, you build up A LOT of speed.
THREE. If you build up too much speed, and you've lost control, just fall over. DON'T try to ride it out.
Shortly after my thirty seconds of terror on the slopes, I learned an extremely interesting skier's term.
Interestingly enough, when a skier wipes out so badly that his hat, skis, poles, gloves, goggles, and most of his self-respect, is left strewn over a 200 yard area, skier's call it a "yard sale."
I had, what was described by some in the ski patrol as, a "yard and garage sale rolled into one." One guy told me it was the most spectacular wipeout he'd ever witnessed. I could tell by the sound of his voice that he'd seen his share of wipe-outs, and that he was honestly impressed. I was so proud. Sheesh!!
PART 3
So here I was, later on in the day, back at the lodge.
The crackling fire wasn't helping my spirits at all. Other than a veritable plethora of bumps and bruises, I had escaped my disaster virtually unharmed.
I was nursing a nice single malt scotch, and was wondering how much I could recoup on slightly used ski equipment in a resale shop, when I heard a voice off to my right.
"Hi Mr. Stone," a voice said. "I thought you might like some company."
I turned and saw the snot-nosed kid from the ski patrol wheeling a woman in her early-40's towards me, in a wheelchair.
Earlier the kid had given me, unsolicited and unwanted, instruction on how to fall on skis. I had wanted to give him instruction on how to fornicate with himself, but I'd held my tongue.
As for the woman, two things jumped out at me immediately. (No pun intended.)
The first was the immobilizing brace on the woman's right foot. The other was the look of utter disgust on her face. It was the same look I'd had on mine when I first arrived back at the lodge.
"Lollipop Run is taking 'em out right and left today," snot-nose chuckled.
My first thought was to leave nothing but smoke and rubble but I realized that it was just a kid without a lick of sense, and no skills at personal interaction.
The look on his face said, "Look into something a little safer next time like...checkers or solitaire."
I couldn't even see the kid as he spoke. I was picturing a pair of smoking ski boots where he stood. He must have been able to read my mind as, when my eyes locked on his, the "better-than-thou" smirk quickly dissipated.
He quickly pushed the woman over so that she sat directly across from me.
"Mr. Stone, this is Mrs. Walker. Mrs. Walker, Mr. Stone. I'm really sorry about your accidents. (Too little, too late.) If you need anything, the lodge staff will be glad to help you."
I noted a slight hint of a smile as snot-nose got ready to leave.
"Thank you and good luck," the woman said sweetly.
"Break a leg," I said in not as sweet a tone. I wasn't wishing him "good luck" like a stage performer. At that moment I was hoping he really would break a leg. Snot-nose got the message.
Finally, satisfied to see the smile completely disappear, I said "Thanks."
The kid quickly walked away.
PART 4
"You were a little hard on him don't you think?" the woman asked.
The tone of her voice, and the question she asked, told me volumes about her. I had no doubt that she was a kind and caring person, but there was still a slight edge to her voice that said, "Thanks. He deserved that."
"No," I said with a slight chuckle. "He's young. He'll get over it. Besides, if his personality doesn't change he's destined to hear far worse."
The woman laughed heartily.
"He wasn't the brightest bulb in the knife drawer was he?"
Now it was my turn to laugh. I'd never heard it put quite that way before.
"Mrs. Walker, my name is Don Stone. It's a real pleasure meeting you."
"Thank you Don, but please call me Hillary," she responded.
We spent the next hour or so making small talk. I found that she was a second grade school teacher from San Antonio. She wasn't married, which surprised me as she had definitely been introduced as "Mrs.," and she hadn't corrected me when I used that term.
She had one child from a brief encounter in college. The child was a junior at Alabama, majoring in electrical engineering.
Surprisingly I found she was 51 years old. She honestly did not look a day over 40, and I consider myself a good judge of age.
I let Hillary do most of the talking as I was thoroughly enjoying listening to her, and looking her over.
For 51 she took good care of herself. Hell, for 40 she took good care of herself.
She had black hair, but with a definite red tint. It was extremely hard to define. Whoever did her color should be highly recommended. It was worth every penny.
She had hazel brown eyes and a beautiful smile. I can honestly say that I never met anyone who's smile did more for their face than her's. She was a pretty woman when she wasn't smiling but, when she smiled, she was absolutely beautiful.
Damn, when she smiled, her whole face lit up. Lines, curves, color, that just didn't seem to be there, appeared as if by magic. If I'd been an artist I would have wanted to do a portrait of her. It was a face that should be immortalized. Beautiful was an understatement.
Her body should have been bronzed for immortality. 48FF chest measurement. Who knew they came in sizes like that? They were certainly not a sight I was going to soon forget. 46 waist and 51 hips. Definitely if I was in the business of making bodies, or hourglasses, this was how I would make them.
I found myself thinking less and less about bumps and bruises, and more and more about what she and I could do for the rest of the weekend.
PART 5
"I know what you mean," Hillary was saying to me as I was coming out of my reverie. "I was really looking forward to this week-end. I never thought it would be so hard."
Apparently I wasn't completely back from my day-dreaming.
"Someone that looks like you has no problem making it hard," I said matter-of-factly.
"Excuse me," Hillary said as a look of shock crossed her face.
I quickly tried to recover.