My Name Is Scribble

March 8th 2023 – On International Woman’s Day Is when this incident took place.

A-Basin Ski Area – Summit County Colorado

It’s been a long haul for me with long term Covid. Whine, cry, bitch and moan. Since February 2020 I have been covered with a rash over my entire body. I fall asleep at my computer and generally have lost my thoughts and flexibility and my passion for life. I stay inside, I wear a mask. I have not traveled by plane. Our town is filled with tourists and my writing mind is rusty. I must continue to type or I will give up. It has been three years since I put on a pair of skies. I am/was a strong telemark skier but my flexibility has been in question and yoga just hurts.

We left about 8 am. I was ready. I tried on my equipment the night before. My ski boots were iffy, I couldn’t get my feet inside and under the tongue and snapped down. Husband Dan added a different insole which gave me more room. The PHD ski socks were too thick, so I settled on ancient ones from my early days of skiing. Not as fluffy but they fit. Into the car with my very warm jacket, my rose colored goggles, glove liners, poles, a ski pass and cut up pieces of Blanc Grue Gruyere Cheese. I asked ‘Courage’ to tag along.

We went to the baby lift, christened the Molly Hogan. Made for children with an ultra low seat. The auto pass reader would not let me through into the ski maze. I wasn’t the only one. The silver bar caught me in the crotch. I stumbled. A few more attempts and then Dan ripped the pass out of the carrier and put it directly in my pocket. Without a holder the machine read it. Ahh the good old days when there were ticket checkers to help you. Real people cost too much money. Ski employees would smile and say “Good Morning”. The turn styles burp CLUNK,CLUNK.CLUNK

I made it up the lift twice and down the slope with my skies in a wedge. Scared? You bet. Cloudy skies, no Colorado azure blue. Dan laughed, cheered me on. I bit my lower lip. My fingers were cold and I was ready to leave. On the chair one more time, I tried to push up but I lost my balance and crashed at the top of the the chairlift. I slammed my head left.

It was a massive hit and I knew I dislodged my surgery that I had ten years ago to straighten the disks in my spine. C-2 & C-3 & C-4. I kept repeating I broke my neck, I broke my neck, I wanted to vomit. I could hear. Pain and shock. Ski patrol evacuated me on a sled down the baby lift and into the ski patrol lodge. I had to answer questions, I could talk, I was able to think. There was a ski accident report and yes, ultimately to the hospital. Will I ski again? I can sit up and type. I can see but not as well as I used to see. I am sad. I should not have gone up the third time. I was tired and I knew it. I didn’t go blind and I didn’t break my pelvis and I can type today.

The past becomes my present. I must face the years on my body. I am no longer young, but grateful I have lived this long. I am hopeful I will heal.

SCRIBBLE