Uh, nice weather we’re having, isn’t it?<\/p>\n
Wait, hold on, this isn’t the start to some polite but surface-level small talk.<\/p>\n
But first, as I mentioned in the past, I feel obligated to have some writing on my first winter snowboarding in a mountain town.<\/p>\n
The current report is: Not going great.<\/p>\n
Don’t get me wrong, everything is basically as expected. I’m firmly in the learning process, and I can tell that I’m making improvements. I’ve gone out a few times with friends much more skilled than me as well as by myself, and I’ve so far mastered the art of standing upright on a snowboard while stationary at the top of a bunny hill.<\/p>\n
Well, not mastered, but I’m at least aware of the concept.<\/p>\n
I know that I’m going to fall for the first while, I think I just wasn’t quite ready for the sheer number of bruises and injuries I’d accumulate. I’d only gone snowboarding a few times in my life before this, but I don’t recall from my past the momentary fear that I’ve broken some medium-sized bone in my body after every fall.<\/p>\n
But, enough about the topics of embarrassment and me. Let’s get back to the weather.<\/p>\n
At least while I’m alternating between falling and slowly descending the mountains, I get to enjoy some beautiful winter days.<\/p>\n
Everywhere I go, I hear small talk commenting on the wonderful start to this season, compared with last year. I can see the energy the town has as passersby put skis over their shoulder and a skip in their step. There seems to be an excitement in Aspen.<\/p>\n
Now of course I have nothing to compare to, but based on this reaction, my guess is that last year’s snowfall was somewhere between a mediocre Midwest winter and an average day in Phoenix in June, so I’m glad for the improvement.<\/p>\n
As well, coming here from what usually felt like the perpetual gray of the Midwest, I can really appreciate the number of days of sunshine that seem to be typical in this little part of the country.<\/p>\n
I can tell that it helps to dispel some of the stress that typically arrives around the holidays. And it certainly seems to affect others around me, as well. I get near-weekly updates on the frequency and quality of the “bluebird” days from my coworkers and those I see around Aspen. I admit I’m not fully aware of the lingo around here, but I assume that bluebird refers to a day so beautiful that you have to pull out your phone and tweet about it.<\/p>\n
In any case, it’s truly refreshing to walk to work or errands and enjoy the warmth of the sun and the picturesque imagery of the snow. I can feel it make a difference. Hopefully, it lasts, and we’re able to enjoy a lovely season. I know that it’ll make the inevitable falls a bit nicer.<\/p>\n