I know that my claim to fame will never be my natural grace. Growing up my parents nicknamed me “Boo-Boo-Legs” as the lower half of my body was continuously covered in bruises. Family gatherings often bring up stories of me as a child being unable to sit in a chair without spontaneously falling out, and my brothers get a kick out of the fact that I have mastered falling both up and down stairs. I still walk into walls from time to time, always have mysterious bruises and, unfortunately, seemed to have genetically transmitted my clumsiness to my daughter (whenever she falls, I tell startled onlookers not to worry – she bounces).
While I am not unlike others in my tendency for ridiculous injuries, my lack of coordination and fear of getting hurt is always more of a problem come the winter season. I am a self-proclaimed perennial beginner at snowboarding as I have never been physically or mentally able to graduate past intermediate terrain. I did, however, manage to clock in enough time on the snow last season to become proficient enough to not embarrass myself.
So when I went to gear up for my first day on the snow this season, I had very mixed feelings. When I told my friends, who are of course exceptionally talented skiers and riders, that I was afraid of what would happen to old Boo-Boo-Legs once I strapped into my board, they told me not to worry: It’s like riding a bike. But what if I was never really good at riding a bike to start with?
So my husband and I headed up the hill for the first time this season only to find out that, as I feared, I had forgotten much of what I learned last year. A lot of falls and a few choked back tears had me thinking that I should really give it up. It’s been more than a decade and it doesn’t come easily so what is the point? I “pulled over” on a trail to feel sorry for myself when my husband hit me with a rather harsh pep talk. I’m trying too hard and making it into work. I need stop comparing myself to everyone else, let go and have some fun. The rest of the afternoon was markedly better and I returned in one piece. I guess Boo-Boo-Legs will ride again.