Filipino Ewok and Skiing

Twelve years ago I ventured into an unknown territory – Filipino ewok on skis! I can’t believe it’s been twelve years since we drove for 16 hours to get to Smuggler’s Notch, VT. It was the blizzard of the century! We accepted the vacation package offer with a mindset that we will not buy any time share. We must have truly loved freezing our buns off that we bought the time share and have been coming back to VT for 12 years now!

I wished someone videotaped my first day on skis. It might as well win as the “Funniest
Home Video!” For the life of me, I was the total “dork” on skis. Since I was already embarrassed that I totally looked like a fool, I couldn’t cry because it will just make it a more embarrassing moment:
- I couldn’t duck walk
- I didn’t know how to maneuver my ski boots
- I got nabbed by one of those tow-ropes
- I couldn’t instruct my legs to do the “pizza walk”

So when Craig (my husband) realized that group lessons weren’t good enough for me, he got me a few hours of private lessons. The ski instructor was just so flabbergasted on how I just couldn’t get it.
- Every time I have to make a right turn, my body ends up moving to the opposite direction
- I skied toward a building (on a flat surface)
- I skied down to a small hill
- I wiped-out and fell on my skis

And yet, here we are! After wasting all the money and time with instructors, Craig realized that there’s only one way to teach a Filipino ewok how to ski – and that is through some TLC! So he took over and voila! After so many sore bums and ego, I was able to ski down the mountain. ( Getting off the lift is another story!)

I love taking vacations with my family. We miss our daughter dearly. She missed 3 of the 12 ski vacations so far because of school. She’s such a scholar that she never wanted to miss any school days.

Vacations help us relax, unwind and re-access a lot of things. In the present economic recession, I’m thankful that we are able to go to Smuggler’s Notch . I hope the kids will realize just how lucky they are and hopefully they will work hard in their “grown-up” years that they, too, can independently enjoy the luxuries in life.

Four years ago, my youngest brother was going to come with us in one of our winter vacations. But then of course, that didn’t happen. I’m still hoping that one day, he can join me and the kids go on the ski lift and ski down the mountain!

I’m thankful for my husband for expanding my interests. He’s opened by eyes and taste buds numerous times! Here’s to the one I love dearly – Cheers !

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Photograph taken today on board the Essex Ferry to Vermont

Other related posts:

Another Family Winter Vacation , I actually love to ski

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