This trip to Colorado has found a way to extend itself with weather conditions, canceled flights, snow drifts technically eating caravans, and tiny perks and benefits that indicated that we were meant to spend a couple extra days, even though we hadn’t planned on it in the first place.
This was an important trip to me in many ways. It was the first time I was going to ride without David at my side. It was going to cross over my mother’s birthday. It was in a location that Mom, David and I had made some pretty awesome memories… then each piece was abruptly torn away every year for the last three years.
I know there are some other people, friends of ours, who struggle to do something that they shared with David because of the pain it may cause them. All I can say is, “In your own time.” There was no way I could have forced this any quicker. The E. coli I ended up getting at the beginning of this trip kept me from riding. I was extremely apprehensive when I first got here anyway, and it almost feels as if karma stepped in and let me prepare myself for what I was about to do.
I won’t lie, there has been some hidden tears on this trip. The walk down memory lane is an awful trek. You try to maintain a positive outlook on things, but the feeling of loss is overwhelming to say the least. But that “out” is a good thing.
Anyway, the real point is this: “When you’re ready to ______,” you’ll know it. Also, you will find people pushing you a little bit to do so. Let them lean into you a bit and help you over the ledge. I can without any reservation say this trip has been extremely important to me and has been very helpful.
Snowboarding will NEVER be the same, I know that now. I may not do it as much, or maybe I will, but it has been changed forever. There have been some epic laughs on this trip that could not have happened otherwise, and the people who made it possible have my utmost thanks.
It’s time to go ride my final day in Vail. I’ve got some old friends, I’ve made some new ones, and we’re just gonna do the best we can.
