the    sides

G: “So…what do you want to do on your birthday?”

Cam: “Ski.”

G: “Really?”

Cam: “Yep. Can we go on a Friday and miss school?”

G: “You are my favorite child.”

Cam: “You say that to all of us, Dad.”

G: “Don’t ruin this moment.”

Tomorrow morning we will hit A-Basin. They’ve got an 18-inch base, only one run open – “the white ribbon of death.” But we won’t care too much. We’ll go early, probably stop after lunch and head home.

Cammy was my skiing buddy toward the end of last year. We were the only ones to ski the coldest day of the year last year. It -13 at the base. I don’t even want to know what it was at the top. It was so cold, we took turns leading down the mountain. It was a nice thought from her but I’m not sure how much of windbreak she was for me. Our feet were solid pieces of ice when we got down. We grabbed some hot chocolate, sat for a few minutes then did it again. We were practically the only ones on the mountain that day. By lunch we were done. Great day.

She’s an intermediate skier, learning to do the moguls. Probably by the end of the year, she’ll be doing single diamonds with me. I’ll wait one more year to get on the double’s and backcountry powder skiing.

But lost in all of that – she’s turning 9. NINE. I’ve been told it just gets faster from here on out.

I’ll love tomorrow. Take some pictures. Make some memories.