Through the generations

My parents passed the love of skiing to me and my siblings. They used to pile us all in our VW Bus and take road trips to the mountain.  I love this picture of me and my brothers and sisters taken in Bend, Oregon in April 1971.  My mom always said it wasn't so hard to have five kids because the older ones helped with the younger kids.  Clearly that is evident in this picture where Liz and James are helping out me and my little brother Andy.  I remember needing help to lace up (yes, lace up) my ski leather boots, having someone help me clamp down my bindings on my wooden skis and attach my safety straps around my ankles. 

This past weekend my mom and brother organized a family ski get together near Bend, Oregon.  The youngest generation of cousins were all there (sans Tyler in Texas).  It was a wonderful deja vu moment for me as I witnessed the older cousins helping all the younger cousins with their skis, boots and gear.  They helped them ride the chairlift, get up from wipeouts in the snow and taught them how to navigate down the mountain.  The equipment has certainly changed, but the element of family love and support remained.  My kids have great memories from this weekend that will live with them and perhaps be passed on to their children someday on future family ski trips.