The Slippery Slope

This is a fictional story written for the GBE2 writing prompt.    

       She should truly have her head examined.  She wasn’t getting any younger, but the Olympians on television made it look so easy.  The royal princes of Europe learned as soon as they could barely walk and enjoyed it.  They looked so handsome and athletic on the slopes.  Why not her?  How hard could it be?  She wanted to feel that free just once.  She wanted to learn, and she was determined that she would.  She skied all the time on the Wii.  That should count for something, right?

       She had made reservations at one of the best ski lodges in Colorado.  The lodge had been kind enough to recommend and put her in touch with an instructor, had made arrangements for all the equipment she would need to be at her disposal during her stay, and had even guaranteed that there would be snow.

      Sure she had her misgivings.  God knows, she could catapult down that hill and break her ass and lots of other bones she would need later.  It could be viewed by most as a suicide mission or simply a moment of insanity she was determined to have a taste of.  She wasn’t going to tell a soul because she didn’t want anyone to talk her out of it.  The skiers she had watched on television looked so free, so powerful.  Hell, they looked like they were flying!  She wanted to feel that free.  She wanted to fly.  She wanted to feel the cool crisp air blast her face as she flew down that slippery slope. 

       Buckling on the skis for the first time was awkward.  Standing and moving on them was worse.  The instructor was patient and kind, showing her the ins and outs, explaining techniques.  She listened carefully and desperately tried to do as he explained mimicking his every move.  This was a lot different than what the Wii simulated.  She fell more than once, laughing like a lunatic at first then crying in frustration as time went on.   After much practice and many falls, the instructor encouraged her to try the bunny slope.  She was ready he insisted.  Well hell, he should know.  It was populated with the kindergarten set.  Well maybe some were a little older, but she by far was the oldest out there.  Even the flipping instructor looked like a teeny-bopper compared to her.  Oh God, she must be out of her mind to think she of all people could do this.  She stood at the edge and looked down, took a deep breath, and flew down the slippery slope turning this way and that as she had learned ending up flat with a face full of snow.

         She fell many times after that first try but she got back up and tried again and again until finally she made it all the way down that stretch of slippery slope not only in one piece, but upright.  She finally flew.  She soared.  Her heart exploded with happiness and accomplishment.  She did what she had come here to do.  You can do anything you put your mind to she thought to herself with satisfaction.  You can conquer that slippery slope.