Member-only story
Fast Write
Going For a Ski On My Lunch Break
Mid-day time travel
Skiing the trails behind my house in the middle of the day because I needed a computer break. Because the dog was chewing everything but her bone. Because I’m lucky. Because lots of people put a ton of work into making trails and grooming them.
The whole time skiing I’m watching last summer’s shadows, remembering the hike we take up to the Willow Tree every August, the place my daughter likes to get in the stream, the places we have named for friends hiking with us, and the time we found a secret blueberry spot. Once a boy said to me, standing below Diamond Ridge after meandering the trails all afternoon with us, “This is so beautiful. Thank you for taking me here.” And I was sweaty and so darn happy somebody else thought it was special too.
So the trails are kind of like time travel. Being in the present, but remembering all the seasons at once.
In case you’re wondering, yes, there is still snow in Alaska at the end of March! I’m looking forward to green grass any time now…but there’s still a long way to go. Green grass will show up in my yard in early May!
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