Play to live.

Odin and Buddy ruffing it up.

This weekend with the new fallen snow we couldn't help but revisit some of our favorite places. (Might I ad our friends in CT almost had us making a surprise visit home as storm Nemo dumped as much as 40" over the weekend; unbelievable.) The last time this happened I was 7 months old and it was 1978. My father had to abandon his purple Ford Pinto...yeah pretty sweet, to post hole home with diapers......it's been awhile since then. Sure we've been out scraping around after work but nothing beats hanging out with friends in fresh powder.  Some of our best friends and teachers happen to have four legs and an insatiable appetite for food, powder and play. I caught Odin and Buddy, after following us around all day in the VT back country proving that life is always more fun when shared with good friends, who also like to live and play in the mountains.

Have fun out there...

T.

Tired boots.

Acouple things I am truly thankful for.

As of late I have found myself way busier than I think I have ever found myself.  It's in theses moments that we can often forget what really is important in our lives.  Certain things come to mind; family, good friends, good health, enjoying ourselves in the moment, letting go, the outdoors.  As I let go and returned home I was once again reminded that it is the people close to us and that we chose to surround ourselves that make us come home to where we started.  Hopefully theses people rub off on us and leave a mark; so this is what I find myself truly thankful for.  Thank you everyone for constantly reminding me how lucky I am.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now get outside.

Life cycles; a ride in movie.

With all our great outdoorsy folks we know, we knew this would be an easy one!  Sarah, Odin and I planned to have an outdoor showing of the new video-ography of the life of a bicycle; Life cycles.  With a group ride from Onion River Sports to Plainfield with good friends we grilled,shared drinks and sat down to watch which turned out to be an awesome outdoor movie showing.  There's nothing quite like riding your bike into see a movie indeed.  I think will be doing this at least a couple more times.

Stay tuned.

T.

Two things to remember for the many wonderful people in our lives.

Life is full of surprises.  Often I think all we can do is surround ourselves with as many wonderful people as we can and live life and enjoy it the best we possibly can; day to day.  This of course is easy to say.  Life can be stressful, sad and  full of terrible things.  This is what makes life so wonderful.  Without sadness, anger, stress and all of it's many other emotions life would be a less than worthy of an experience. As I have said before, as one journey ends, often another will inevitably start and this is what I felt yesterday.  Our amazing  friend Ellen was diagnosed with breast cancer a couple of months ago at the age of 27 and her life very quickly and abruptly changed direction.  Yesterday we had Ellen, Eric her boyfriend, Margot, and Geoff over to celebrate as she has just finished her chemo. A good day.

        Yesterday my mother started her chemo and her fight against breast cancer as we sat eating dinner celebrating Ellen's end to her chemo.  I couldn't  imagine two more wonderful people in my life that I have chosen to surround myself with who have both started  paths down a different road in life. This is when those people around us find themselves in vibrant color.   I remember reading Into the Wild and feeling so much for Chris McCandless, as he sought to run a way from society.  It was only in the end, as he tried to leave the isolated school bus he called home in the wilderness of Alaska, that he realized it's the people around him that made life truly special: happiness is shared.  He found humanity and love.

Even before my mother was diagnosed with  cancer she would tell me how she prays.  I remember telling mom about Ellen and she would say "I'll pray for her"  and I would say how nice that was. Now for those who don't know me I'm not a religious man per say but I do believe in something of a higher spirit that I experience by spending my time outside in the mountains.   So  I started thinking about how and why people pray.  Do you have to believe in God to pray?  Yesterday I decided; absolutely not.  We can always think about our loved ones and wish them well and feel our connection with them in this world; its the simple act of turning inward and focusing positive energy towards a person or situation that can be so healing, and can connect us to each other.  So I decided that I would focus inward, on certain words and people in my life, and send some good energy their way. I think many of us inherently do this, with or without out even knowing it, it's just the act of focusing in on it more.

 So as I  focus my  love and energy on mom and Ellen; I remember these two things: surround yourself with wonderful people and live life to it's fullest every day and second,  take the time to let them know how much you love them - even if its just by sending some good energy their way. 

Oh, right - the marshmallows.  Ellen brought them and as we sat around the fire she made everyone one heck of a S'more!  Just one of the many reasons we love her dearly.

Mom I miss you much I'll see you soon, you've always been there for me as I will be for you.


Love

T.