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 "A
Ski Lesson" by Lisa Marie Mercer, Page 2
"Okay. Try not to think of the mountain as an enemy you need to escape. Before you got to this trail, the mountain was your dancing partner. It still is, but it's giving you some challenging steps to follow." This is not what she wants to hear. "I'm not in the mood to be challenged right now! This is not the place to learn something new!" "Something new? Think about it. Every advanced skill is based on something you already know. Can you side slip?" "Of course. But I need to see where I'm slipping, and I can't!" "Try to sense what you can't see. Let's try the side slip here, where there's not much powder." She releases her downhill edge, but her uphill edge holds steadfast, as she refuses to surrender to the snow. He senses her panic. "Close your eyes for a moment. Imagine that the snow is turning into a cloud. You are becoming so light, that you can stand on it, as you float down the mountain." She laughs. "Now that's really corny." Still, she closes her eyes. "Your breathing is the magic that can make this happen. Take a deep breath in as you edge your skis. Breath out and let them flatten. Then, let yourself float down the mountain." She thinks he's nuts, but somehow trustworthy. His tough, street-smart voice doesn't quite jive with the images he gives her. But this is why she likes him. This is why she's tempted to try his magic. Still, she hesitates. "What if someone hits me?" "I'll be right behind you." "What if they hit you?' "I'll banish them from this mountain!" She laughs. "Okay, then." She feels the sweet sensation of surrender as she allows her skis to slide through the snow. As she looks to the right, her skis, as if connected to her eyes, begin to turn. She floats through the deepest powder she has ever allowed herself to experience. "This is amazing!" She exclaims. Then, caught up in her excitement she falls from grace. It's the most graceful wipeout he's ever seen. One arm and one leg extend toward the sky as she sinks into the snow. He hears her hysteria as he approaches. In relief, he realizes that she is laughing. Her laughter is her liberation, releasing all terror and tension. She can't control it, nor does she try to. Then, she looks up and sees him. CLICK HERE FOR Page 3 |
