I close my eyes and feel the brisk breeze
touch my face. The air smells of pine and ice. I take my ski and scratch the snow below me, feeling for ice as I survey the terrain of the next ski run. Then, that's when I let my body slip past the peak of the slope and let gravity take control. My feet carve the ice and snow as the world grows bigger and bigger in my view. That's when I notice, as I do every year, how beautiful Minnesota is in the winter.
My wonderful holiday vacation with my family ended with my favorite sport, skiing. For me, nothing compares to see the world so small when staring from on top of a mountain. I love stretching my arms, closing my eyes, and letting my feet take me down to the itsy bitsy world below. My ears pop as I descend and the cold chills my cheeks. It's amazing how powerful and small you feel when skiing. You realize, after completing a "black diamond," and gazing back up the incline, how small you truly are. Nature is a glorious thing.
I went to Lutsen for this trip. My dad came with me. We had a fabulous time. The scenery was incredible. It was great to spend time with him.
The snow hung heavy on the tree limbs and ice clung to the tree tops like glass.
In conjunction with skiing with my dad, I was able to see my family where I grew up; celebrate my birthday; and enjoy my last few days in Minnesota. It was the perfect end to a beautiful new beginning.
