Text from the Top
I am a transplanted New Englander raising Southern Califorinian beach bums. During fall of 2011, I finally managed to hatch a plan to expose my kids to a New England ski experience that was such a large part of my family's shared history. My mother, sister, brothers and their families planned to meet us at Jay Peak during Martin Luther King weekend for our first ever New England family ski trip. On December 8, 2011, my mother was diagnosed with extensive, small cell lung cancer. We tried to cancel the trip, but my mother insisted we go as planned and that she would be fine staying in Boston. While we were on the trip, my mother landed in intensive care with pneumonia. Again, we tried to end the trip and again my mother insisted we stay at Jay and enjoy the skiing. On Monday afternoon, my children quit skiing early and I was finally able to leave the bunny slope and go to the top of the mountain. It was my first real ski run in 12 years and it was amazing. The sun was setting and I could see Mt. Washington from the peak. I got to choose the run and the speed. At 49 years old, I couldn't quite hit the bumps the way I used to, but the sense of unadulterated joy was the same. I sent the above text to my Mom from the peak. It was the last text exchange we had as she passed away a month later on February 11, 2012.
Thank you Jay Peak for giving me a moment of joy during the most difficult journey of my life.
