Affirm Grasp

GREAT EXPECTATIONS I’ll never forget the first time I went downhill skiing.   I was 17 years old and a guy I really liked asked me to go with him so I jumped at the chance ! Apprehensive about skiing, I really liked this guy and wanted to spend time with him.   This would be our special memory. A night to remember.  Great expectations. So off we go.   No lesson.   Just my date telling me to keep my skis straight like french fries and maneuvering them into a pie shape to stop. (A very important thing by the way.) So what felt like hours later, I finally figured out how to get a ski boot on, squeeze into bindings and grab my poles. Then it was off to the bunny hill.  I didn't even seem to mind my quads or mittens burning. It was all good.  I was with the guy I liked.   And I was 17. So just a few runs off the bunny hill, he was ready for the ski lift. And the moguls. For those who are skiers, you know how ridiculous it is to ta...

Northern Michigan woods  Snow. Pure. Snow. There is something special about fresh fallen snow. Add the trees and sun and well, it's just something indescribable. Light, beautiful, gracious, unique snowflakes. Glistening, romantic, pure. Having spent a dozen years of my life in Northern Michigan, I have come to love snow. Inches and inches of snow. Sometimes so much in a day that you take a couple of steps, look back at your footprints and the snow has already filled your tracks.  There's also some great winter sports to enjoy.  Downhill skiing, hockey, ice skating, building snowmen,, snowball fights,  and my favorite, cross country skiing.  There's just something special about skiing in the woods in the winter.  Great exercise, great memories. Yet not everyone likes snow.  I get it.  It's not much fun to drive in.  I recall drives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where all you could see...