Saved by the Storm

I sip at my hot cocoa, amazed at this fortunate twist of events. Sympathetic to my tripmates’ feelings to the contrary, I do my best to restrain the urge to smile as I gaze into the flames of the fireplace that are keeping my fingers and toes toasty. I am a lifelong New Englander who hates the winter, snow, and all things related to it, and have my entire life since as far back as I can remember. Wait, I stand corrected… I do recall being awestruck by the sheer mass of snow during the Blizzard of ’78 and enjoying myself in it once we could get outside. But I was only 5 years old—what did I know?

 I had reluctantly agreed to join this ski trip and now the chalet that we rented is snowed-in, rendering the mountains too treacherous to attempt, even for my friends let alone a newbie like me. I relish the thought of endless hours of Charades, Scattergories, and Scrabble. Long chats, hot beverages, and much overdue relaxation time await. This is what true winter fun is all about, not careening down powdery, slippery hills in the bitter cold to one’s impending death. This weekend getaway turned out to be such a fabulous idea after all!

            I look over at my small group of friends and see mirror images—slouched shoulders, bowed heads, and disappointed faces. I decide it is not the best time to shout, “Who is up for a game of Scrattergories?” Not just yet anyway. “Come on, guys, I know you were looking forward to skiing but that’s just not in the cards. We can still salvage this weekend if we put our minds to it. Who has an idea for some indoor fun?”

            “Don’t everyone shout at once,” I think sarcastically as they all just glare at me. I guess I truly do not understand the minds of skiers—"Winter People,” Humph!” I grab a deck of playing cards and start a lively game of Solitaire. This is still better than face-planting into a tree, I muse as I stare into the white abyss outside the window.

            “Suit yourselves, but I prefer to keep occupied. You can sit around looking glum all you want, but that’s not going to change a thing.” Oh Goodie, the Ace of Hearts, now we’re getting somewhere!” Suddenly, I sense motion in my peripheral view. Matt is by my side in an instant. Thinking he had changed his mind and wanted to play a game, I began, “Wait just a sec and…,” but he interjected, “You’re actually enjoying this, aren’t you? We’re stuck here, inside, and you’re more than fine with it! We’re all miserable and you’re playing cards? How can you be so blasé about this? Don’t you get it—we are trapped!”

            Trapped? I didn’t see it that way. We are dry, warm, and comfortable, not to mention that we have each other for company. The chalet is top-notch, and we have the supplies we need (and then some) to get through the weekend. What is Matt’s issue? I made eye contact with him, fully prepared to argue my points to the contrary, to talk him out of his position. That’s when I saw it. The pained look overshadowed by sheer panic. I paused and glanced around the room, finding the same expression in the eyes of everyone else in the room. They looked like I would have on the slopes. Common ground.

            “Matty, guys, I know this sucks,” I begin, addressing the room. You must be panicking, being stuck in here during a storm of this magnitude. It’s not just disappointment about missing the skiing you were so looking forward to; as outdoor warriors, you just aren’t accustomed to being forced indoors, especially during this type of weather that limits your movements. I think that I understand now. I’m seeing at least the level of upset and anxiety because, for me, it’s the same just in the opposite situation. I panic going outdoors in this type of weather, doing the daring activities you find exhilarating. I’d take snowed-in with the comforts of a warm fire, great friends, and adult drinks any day over skiing in the cold, not to mention dangerous, conditions.

We differ on some things, but it boils down to the same emotions.”

            Rose crosses the room and takes my hand in hers, saying, “I had no idea you had such strong feelings against skiing. Don’t get me wrong, we are so glad you’re here, but why did you come this weekend? You couldn’t have known we’d get trap… er, snowed-in.”

“No, I hadn’t a clue. I came to be with all of you, and to challenge myself to move out of my comfort zone. It wasn’t easy to come to the decision. At first, it was a hard no, then I worked my way up to a maybe, followed by a definite possibility until I managed a tentative yes. By the time I said I would go, I had gone through a ton of inner work, trust me,” I responded laughing.

            Evelyn joined the conversation then, asking me to say more about that inner work I engaged in. I explained that I did a lot of introspection and meditation, picturing myself on the slopes and NOT mangling my body. I imagined myself feeling warm sensations while out in the snow. I did a lot of deep breathing exercises, especially as anxiety came up around the idea of the ski trip, reminding myself to concentrate on my breath during it, as well. The group seemed interested and after consideration, Evelyn offered, “Maybe we can use some of that stuff to help us cope with being stuck here.

            “What do you mean by meditation?” asked Scott. I explained what it looked like for me and saw a few nodding heads, but for the most part, my friends looked befuddled. “I could show you if you want,” I offered. They were all for it, so I explained the deep breathing piece and led my friends in a meditation session, complete with guidance on how they could tailor it for themselves. It was pretty cool. As I brought the session to a close, I reminded my friends to use it on their own frequently, especially when feeling anxious or antsy.

            It started gradually, but we began engaging with one another more and, before we knew it, lively chatter and laughter filled the chalet walls. After dinner, we enjoyed some adult drinks (Angel Kisses, my favorite) and loosened up a bit more. The games came out and we had quite a bout of Scrabble—no one was interested in Scattergories, which is one of my go-to's. I guess they don’t like to lose! Charades came later in the night—each of us a few drinks in and getting tired—and it was hilarious… Good times!

            From there, the weekend went by in a blur, engaging, fun, and almost festive. I enjoyed my friends, the games, and even the snow (from a safe distance). As we were packing up at the end of our trip, Scott said, “This was great, I’m glad we did it. So, Lisa, can we count you in for the next ski trip… when we can hit some actual powder? It’s okay if you prefer to stay inside, we just want you there.”

I smiled at his understanding and compassion but replied, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world, but I will be hitting the slopes. Alert the ski instructors…and perhaps the EMTs!” (laughing).