...falling in love again

In the early 80s I was a newlywed in northern Alberta. On our trips back to Oregon we'd pass through Banff and Jasper where all kinds of crazy road cyclists were working their way up and down the mountain passes. I remember looking out the window as we passed a group of cyclists and saying, "That looks like so much fun! I want to do that." To which my dear ex replied, "Looks like a lot of work to me." In the wintertime in Peace River, going crazy with cabin fever, I'd look out to see someone going by on cross country skis. Again, "That looks like fun! I want to do that." And again the response was, "Looks like work." It's not that dear ex was a couch potato. He was passionate about baseball, belonged to a curling league, and had played hockey when he was younger. It's that our interests didn't match up. I spent many hours sitting on bleachers fighting mosquitoes or trying to stay warm (and feign interest) depending on the season. But, I wasn't the kind of person to try something on my own if dear ex wasn't into it.

End result, I never tried cycling nor cross country skiing during my time in Alberta. Our children were born, the marriage ended, and I found myself back in Oregon, back in school to finish my teaching degree. Life was busy.

While the kids were growing up we camped

and hiked and put many miles on our bikes. My first "expensive" bike was a tax refund splurge and cost all of $300, and a trailer for Katie was about the same. I laugh when I think how our car looked, loaded up for spring break or at the beginning of summer vacation--a four-door Geo Metro with a huge storage bin on top (the old kind, not the sleek models you see now), bikes and trailer on the back, and inside, 1 adult, 2 long-legged kids, a dog or two, and a cooler. Ha!

Fast forward a few years...kids were into sports,

and my free time was spent traveling to games.

Life was very busy.

Then all of a sudden, it came to a stop. Kids grew up, went away to college, and I had time on my hands. What to do with myself now that other people's needs and wants don't dictate what I do with my free time? When my friend Kathryn invited me to come out and ride with a group from the LBS, I was ready.

And I fell in love.

In December Kathryn and her husband Charlie invited me to go cross country skiing on New Year's Day. Of course I said yes. I was so excited I could hardly sleep the night before. What a beautiful day to be out in the mountains!

I think I may have fallen in love again.

Oh, and speaking of love....Kathryn and Charlie were just married on 12/27!

And as for falling...there had been a warm spell that melted the top layer of snow, and the trail was ungroomed.

This was only Kathryn and Charlie's third time on skis, and my first, so we fell.

A lot.

And laughed. A lot.

I want to go again.

And speaking of love one last time...today would have been dear ex's and my 29th wedding anniversary. I hope he is also pursuing his dreams. No regrets.