OCR Text |
Show The Skiing Grandmother you and I and everyone is safely down' and in unison we said; "Thank God for the ski patrol the SWEEPERS!" OUve Milner call it what you like I realized that here was a member of the ski patrol faithfully doing his duty. Yes he, "The Sweeper" had waited patiently, as well as three others from the ski patrol and had followed us down just in case we had an accident. Four skiiers who had failed to think of the other person, had disobeyed the rules, had been late, had thought of nothing but our own pleasure of being alone skiing down the hill. It was later that night, as we gathered around a glowing fire, that we spoke of the Ski Patrol. How they, at the end of the day sweep every run making sure that It was the best time of the day, skiing together in a line, on a mountain all to ourselves. It was no time until we reached the Angle Station and there I learned we weren't on the hill alone. There were four other people, and I said to myself:"Why didn't they ski down when they were supposed to, now we can't have the hill all to ourselves." I was surprised when one of the said: "You're going to take the gondola down aren't you?" And I quickly answered; "Of course not, we're going to ski down." So on we went enjoying every minute of it. It wasn't until we had turned at the bottom of the Blanche' run and I looked up, and saw a skiier standing high above me with arms folded, looking down on us that I realized, much to my chagrin, embarrassment, . It was that time of day on the ski hill when you have had it. My gang consisting of myself, my son, my grandson and granddaughter grand-daughter had skiied all day only stopping for lunch. It was about late afternoon when I told them to take another run and I would wait for them at the Summit House. Being a skiing grandmother I can quit when I want to. After relaxing I felt great and ready for the trip down to the bottom. So outside I went to wait for my gang over by the chair lift. After all it wouldn't be a long wait because all the lifts were closed, only running to bring up the stragglers on the hill. They should be up any minute now. So glueing my eyes on the up-coming chair-lifts I waited. Up came an empty chair, then another, then another. But the third chair had a couple. Greeting them I asked anxiously; "Anyone on the hill?" But the answer, "No, we didn't see anyone, guess we're the last." So anxious moments went by. It's funny the things you think of when you are waiting and it's getting later and later. I could see them lost on the hill, or injured, or even dead. Funny the tricks your imagination can play. When I was about ready to scream, yell, do something up they came. Needless my joy over-came my inclination to chastise. They were safe, now we could ski down. When nature was taken care of, thank goodness the summit house was still open and waiting for those late-comers to the rest rooms. Now we were ready to start our descent. It always reminded me of a train, my son up front leading the way, my granddaughter next, my grandson grand-son next and me bringing up the rear. |