Rhys was slowing making his way down the bunny slope, surrounded by three
instructors. Ken was in front, skiing backwards. Jack, a grizzled veteran
with an infectious laugh was on one side of him, Simon, a young fellow who
appears to have been born on skis, was on the other.
Rhys had no tether and no "edgy-wedgies". Tethers are nylon straps the
instructors attach to a learner's boots while they ski behind them. "Edgy-
wedgies" are connectors that hold the tips of the learners skis close together.
These are some of the tools they use to help teach the disabled to ski.
Rhys has always had challenges with balance, motor planning, strength, and
muscle tone. You'd never expect to see him on skis. I've been bringing him
up to the White Mountain Adaptive Ski School for a couple of years now.
We can only do it a couple of times each winter, but Rhys has been improving
a bit at a time.
I watched the group slowly traverse back and forth. Rhys was initiating his
own turns, shifting his weight and using his edges, to the accompaniment of
praise and encouragement from his instuctors. It was quite a sight.
If anyone asks me whether I've ever seen guardian angels, I can answer yes.
They wear red ski jackets.
@spendius,
Don't give us Americans more credit than we deserve, spendius. The family
surely just had their initials (BS) in mind when they asked for that license plate.
They're probably the Bill Smith family.
@George,
Awww, that made me tear up a bit. Wonderful!
@George,
oh
<gulp>
<sniff>
you're right
red ski jackets
I'm going to remember that.
I posted this elsewhere, but on second thought I think it belongs here. My cousin sent me the video. I just keep smiling.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKAVyXi0J4&feature=fvw
@ossobuco,
Yeah, me too. Schniffing and smiling.
We kept my stepdaughter's dog when she went overseas and when she returned six months later, her doggie was sooooo happy to see her. It's a terrific thing to watch, isn't it? Love.
My stepson borrowed a large sum of money from his father and I several months ago and after a few broken promises, some unpleasant phone calls a full month of complete silence, he finally repaid it today. Smiling.
I remember coming back from VN and ending up at my parents' house. Sherry, a sort-of-a-golden retriever who was normally quite genteel (never barking, for example) saw me walking up the driveway after a couple years' absence. It took her a minute to figure out who I was but then she came welcoming at me, 50 or 60 pounds of her, hitting me right in my stomach.
About 25 years ago, my pussy cat and her daughter
were separated for some reason for a few weeks.
Upon being re-united, thay both simultaneously went forward
and reciprocally rubbed their right shoulders together and laid down.
David
There was a story today on NPR's All Things Considered reported from right here in Charlottesville regarding a documentary movie filmed here that will show at the South by Southwest film festival.
The film covers 3 years in the life of a parking lot and the lives of the parking lot attendants. The Corner Parking Lot is right behind the bars, restaurants and other retailers directly adjacent to the UVA campus (or "grounds" as we call it).
My acquaintance, Chris, owns it. He hires quirky people to staff the quirky little booth that often gets redecorated with quirky graffiti on the booth or the gate - sometimes by strangers or by the writers, painters, actors or musicians who have worked there over the years.
One employee went on to become a Fulbright scholar and others have moved on to become known in the arts.
Oddly, Chris also has a documentary entered in the same film festival.
@realjohnboy,
Another good story from rjb..
Gots me a J. O. B. Today
Woot for a pay check and discount books
@Seed,
Woot for the SeedMan!
~~~
I went back to dance class this week. Still an occasional touch of vertigo if there's serious spinning, but I'm back, I'm getting my ass kicked and I am thrilled about it.
I also had a great interview with Best Buy that went really well. Should hear back from them in the next couple of days.
