Death List

Ra - Ra - class of '74

Last night I met for dinner with 6 high school pals. We visited and laughed for over 2 hours. Three of the ladies are working on our THIRTY FIFTH high school reunion so they naturally shared information about people they had contacted, informing us about interesting details.

Then they pulled out the DEATH LIST, confirmed information about 23 poor souls that have gone to the great beyond. A poster honoring the dead was hurriedly altered at the last reunion because one person wasn't really dead. It left a gaping hole with bits of glue and paper. Since last reunion, we think he has died and will go back on the poster.

I suggested sticky tak to post the names this time. Glad I'm with the living...

Lucky Me - THINGS I HAVE WITNESSED

Throughout 40 years skiing....

• I've skewered my hat and goggles off on a low branch - BUT NEVER HAD A STICK POKING OUT OF MY HEAD.
• Ive worn the same long underwear skiing all 40 years - BUT NEVER HAVE WORN THE SAME OUTER WEAR FOR OVER FIFTEEN.
• I've caught an edge and gently bumped into a tree - BUT NEVER HIT A SIGN, BOUNCED OFF AND HIT A TREE BREAKING BOTH LEGS, SEVERAL RIBS, AND PUNCTURING A LUNG.
• I've broken fingernails by gouging my hand into hard snow (or a rock) - BUT NEVER MADE THE SNOW LOOK LIKE A CHERRY SNOWCONE BY BLEEDING PROFUSELY UPON IT.
• I've hit a rope and dislodged the poles attached to it - BUT NEVER TWEEKED MY KNEE BY HITTING A VERY LOW ROPE LEATHALLY.
• I've been stuck up a tree with my skiis on - BUT NEVER FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN AND LANDED IN A TREE HEAD-DOWN NEEDING RESCUE FROM BELOW.
• I've forgotten my ski pants and skiied in in my long underwear - BUT NEVER HAVE I LOST ALL LAYERS OF CLOTHING AND EXPOSED MY BARE BOTTOM TO ONLOOKERS.
• I've come upon many a man relieving himself in the forest - BUT, LACKING THE EQUIPMENT, HAVE NEVER HAD OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO MYSELF.
• I've spent a bit of $ to enjoy the lifts - BUT NEVER HAVE I HAD TO SPEND $5,000 TO BE AIRLIFTED OFF THE MOUNTAIN (Saw that today).
• I've threatend my children that they would do more chores if they didn't ski - BUT NEVER SCREAMED THAT I "WOULD PUT THEM IN SKI SCHOOL" IF THEY DIDN'T SKI WITH ME (Heard that today).
• I've been stuck on a cliff and had to inch my way to safety - BUT NEVER FLOWN OFF A CLIFF LANDING FLAT AND LIFELESS.
• I've flown off a cliff landing flat and lifeless - BUT NEVER HAVE SET UP A PERSON LIKE I WAS TO FLY OFF A CLIFF.

All things considered...........I'm a lucky gal.

Brain Tumors and Such

pain in head + blurred vision = brain tumor

strange looking mole + Reader's Digest health article = melanoma

unexplained bruises + unexplained bruises again = some rare blood cancer

Three weeks ago we went skiing with my daughter and son-in-law at Beaver Mountain. The following Sunday I had bruises above my ankles and mid-calf on both legs. Garth also hurt his knee. As he complained throughout the week, I pointed out the bruises and told him to "buck up buddy - here's proof of aggressive skiing!" My boots are new and the bumps on the mountain big - easy explanation.

Today the bruises re-appeared....no explanation....no aggressive skiing. My heart began to quicken as the stories of fools who failed to notify their doctor of strange bruises flashed through my mind. Blood tests, grim phone calls from nurses setting up appointments with specialists, treatments, loss of hope, a hard fight lost....

Lucky for me my annual physical exam is tomorrow. It must be the ski boots, but I didn't ski hard on Saturday and today is Wednesday, for crying outloud! I won't mention it. But wait, the bruises are above the level of the ski boots. Heart pounding. Can't be the boots - must be disease. Or.......hmmmm......I'll just take a washcloth and scrub a little. Well, how about that? The bruises scrubbed off. Glad I didn't have to ask the doctor and have her tell me to wash my legs. The culprit is the zippers on my new black dress boots and I guess Garth will get a little sympathy for his knee.