I get to Chaperone!

Okay, the word "Chaperone" doesn't always mean you are going to have a good time, but in this case it does.

Every year, Middle school and Jr.high age kids get to have ski school. I think it is a great opportunity. If you are going to live in a cold place, I think it is good to learn to enjoy cold weather activities. So, once a week, for three weeks, the kids go to a nearby ski resort and get to ski for half the day. As parents, we get to pay for this additional education, but it is at a reduced rate from what it would normally be. As well as the lift ticket, they get 1 hour of instruction each time.

For me, I go chaperone. My job is to ski the hills and make sure the kids are in thier classes, and are doing what they are supposed to do. The school pays for my lift ticket and rental, so I get to ski for free. Lucky Me! I like spending the time with my kids, and I enjoy getting to know the other kids that mine go to school with. I hear names of kids at home and it is good to match a face with the name. My kids really like it when I go, so I guess they like to spend time with me, too. I hope that doesn't end too soon.

This is the third year I have been a chaperone. I think it is a lot of fun to get to watch my kids learn to ski and then ski with them after the lesson. Yesterday was the first day. This year I am going with -E-'s group. The last two years have been with -N-. Today, I am a little sore and achey. I don't mind it though. It is worth the fun.

The snow was great. Lots of powder, and it was not extremely cold (22 degrees). It was also very pretty as it stuck to the pine trees. I do enjoy the view from the chair lift.

I do have one problem. When I am skiing, I miss my favorite ski buddy, my cousin, Angie. We learned to ski together in college. We have some good laughs over our experiences at this particular ski resort. We each fell off a lift chair. Yes, I know, not many people can do this. Somehow, we each did, I think it was even the same night. Not high off the lift, just as you try to get on. Yes, we were imbalanced. (maybe even mentally at the time :) ) First, I made the chair swing and she couldn't get on right. Then we got embarrassed and went to another lift where she reciprocated my actions, and I got to be the embarrassed one. Hopefully we can work it out and go skiing together again someday.