New Years check in week one.
Whew! I developed some tarnish. And after only a week. So much so I had to go back to last week to see what I promised myself. My goodness! Look at me last week, all bright and shiny.
Like anything that takes work, reminders and repolishing are important.
Those who have followed my story know that my beautiful brother has been deeply impacted by mitochondrial disease. Those who know my brother know what a great skier he is and how much he covets his space in the mountains. Brother has three boys; my lovely and active nephews.
Me, having spent my 20’s teaching skiing, I have vowed to teach those nephews how to ski.
In the process, I have discovered that skiing with young children is complex and can be a tad stressful.
On Thursday I met this complex, lovely crew at the park-n-ride. I stuffed my skis and boots in the back of the minivan, jumped in the driver’s seat and we were off.
That’s right. Minivan.
Loveland Valley was a little nutty for a Thursday but all was good because Brother has a a disabled parking placard.
Brother has this because he needs it.
Did I mention that Loveland was nutty for a Thursday?
I pull into the parking lot with the ginormous minivan to find all of the disabled spots taken.
Queue verbal reminder…….I am a shiny new penny, I am a shiny new penny, my words create my reality, my words create my reality.
I have found that nutty times can lead to compromised decisions for people. Decisions such as ‘I am an able bodied person but I can park in the disabled spot for 5 minutes while I unload gear. No one will notice’
Having used a placard and observed this behavior, I automatically doubt the validity of everyone in those spots. Yes, this is a weakness of mine and something I am working on as a shiny new penny.
So, being slightly stressed in the ginormous minivan and given my history of doubt, I roll down my window and ask a young dad unloading his SUV in a disabled spot if he is parking there for the day.
“Sir? Excuse me. Are you staying in that spot?”
No answer.
“Sir?” Perhaps he didn’t hear me. Perhaps I should talk louder.
“Hi! Are you parking here?”
Mr. Sir turns to me with the stink eye and a gruff tone. “I have told you three times I’m an staying here.”
Shiny new penny, shiny new penny, shiny new penny!
“Oh. I didn’t hear you.”
“I told you……three times”
And a million snarky responses came to my head, a gazillion arguments. But instead I yelled in an indignant tone, “Well, you just have a nice day!!!!”
That’s go to hell in shiny new penny speak.
Another car rolled out of a spot and we were able to secure our space. Boys tumbled out of the van, Brother navigated variable terrain and my dad joked about the meaning of have a nice day.
But I was bothered by this interaction.
The boys skied and mastered their perfect pizza wedge. Brother did great but needed to return mid-day to our house-on-wheels to take a nap. Stupid mito.
We finished with a celebratory hot chocolate….and maybe a beer.
As we packed back up, gathered stray gloves and stinky ski socks, I saw Mr. Sir doing the same for his family.
I walked over to him.
“Hi. Listen, I am really sorry. I didn’t mean to insinuate anything or insult you. I was just looking for…….”
He cut me off, “yeah, I’m really sorry too.”
“Things get a little crazy with these spots.”
He laughed. “Yes, yes they do.”
I shook his hand, “Thank you,” I said, “Have a good day.”
And this time I meant it.
Week one under the belt.
Samsmom 