After cereal, orange juice, and layers of clothing the
family trudged off for the slopes. Lea went off to peewee
ski school, and Matt, Brad and I hit the first chair lift
of the day. As we were riding up we saw the bright colors
of Lea’s ski suit planted in the snow by the ski school.
Even from a distance I could see that her jaw was set and
her instructor was in for a challenging morning. The cold
20-degree temperature bit at my exposed eyes and nose.
Light snow covered the trees making the slow ride up the
ski lift delightful to my sight, if not to my freezing
body. The first run down the mountain provided solitude
that is uncommon in Lake Tahoe. The crunchy snow beneath
my skiis would transform into a quieter, less icy carpet by
the next run. Pine trees glistened with icicles and snowy