I don’t ski.
Years ago, a doctor told me to avoid skiing because of cartilage tears in both knees. While I often cite this as the reason I don’t ski, I have admittedly never been one to follow a doctor’s instructions.
Also, my knees are fine. Even after a car accident tore them open and required multiple surgeries, they’re good.
The real reason I don’t ski is because of something I was told back in 1992. I was working at a bank in Stoughton, Massachusetts, as a customer service representative. I was helping a man settle an issue with his account, and while I was waiting for the necessary information, I asked him if he had plans for the weekend.
“Skiing,” he said. “Always skiing.”
Having grown up poor, I had never skied before, so I told him I’d like to try someday.
“Don’t,” he said. “Skiing is exactly like cocaine. It’s expensive, it’s addictive, and you will get hurt.”
That sounded about right. So I decided right then and there never to ski.
It’s the same reason I have never played Angry Birds or any other game on my iPhone. I know I would like the games a lot, and I know I would waste an enormous amount of time playing them.
Better to avoid them entirely.
As the man rose to leave my office, he turned, smiled, and said, “It’s also all about the quality of the powder.”
Bethany Meyer’s 5 Reasons This Family Isn’t Skiing is a good list, but I like my former banking customer’s list better.
