For the first time in 25 years

I went to the ski slopes ⛷

The last time I went was the winter of my first or second year of marriage.
If I recall correctly, my husband's friend took us on a day trip.

Time has flown by since then...
Ever since I started a job that gets busy in the winter, I've been hesitant to go, thinking it would be a problem if I got injured, so I haven't been able to bring myself to go.

My nephew's family, whom I met over the New Year, said they were going to a nearby place for a day trip on the 3rd, so I decided to join them.

When I counted back from the last time, it had been 25 years! (ﾟωﾟ)!
Will I... be able to ski without falling!?

My first encounter with skiing was on a high school field trip.
It was a ski camp where we stayed at a guesthouse in Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture.
We were put through a rigorous ski school for 4 days and 3 nights, and they at least got me to the point where I could ski using the snowplow technique.
When I was in college and then started working, it was right during the big ski boom sparked by the movie 'Take Me to the Ski Resort'.
I used to go on overnight ski trips two or three times a season.

Will those 'old skills' actually still work?!

My ski wear was just whatever I had 🤣 I heard there are rental options these days, but I was worried about the sizing 💦
I wore a windproof down jacket and layered over-pants over my Heattech sweatpants. I only bought new gloves.

As for a hat... I made one by modifying a snood that came with a sweater 😆

We left home early in the morning and drove for about two hours.
When we arrived, we met up with my nephew and his family.
Since they have been there a few times, they guided us smoothly to the rental shop and ticket counter. It was a huge help having veterans with us.

After renting boots, skis, and poles, we headed to the slopes.

The ski boots felt so heavy after all this time 💦
I've forgotten how to walk without falling... I'm slipping and sliding, and I don't even have my skis on yet 🤣

I stood on the flat snow and gently placed my skis down.
I tightened the buckles on my ski boots, aligned them with the bindings, and clicked them in!

“Ah... this is it! This feeling!”

As the nostalgic feeling came back, a sense of relief spread through my heart.

“Maybe I can do this!”

Perhaps it was the right choice to rent shorter skis since it had been so long, as they were easy to maneuver.
Still, I spent a while in the corner of the slope getting used to them.
I repeated the process of climbing up a little and sliding down a bit. Hmm, hmm... it seems okay.

My husband was teaching his nephew's eldest son how to climb.
The eldest son couldn't get his body to move as explained.
I was nearby, going up and down with him.

After about an hour of that, I was sweating quite a bit 💦
Well, it was a good warm-up.

I was tired of walking up the hill, so I went to buy a ticket to ride the lift.

In the old days, I would have bought a one-day pass and skied until the very end, but thinking that's probably impossible now, I quietly settled for a 'three-ride ticket'.

For the first ride, I naturally went to the lift for the beginner slope. Nowadays, tickets are IC cards too. You hold it up to the gate and the bar opens. It's amazing—a moment where I really felt the passage of 25 years🤣

The second ride was also on the beginner slope. My sense of it started to come back a little. It was so gentle that I stopped in the middle💦 It's a family slope where you can even use a sled, so I guess it can't be helped...

After a short break, I tried riding the lift for the intermediate course for my third ride.

Since I was able to ski the third run quite well, I got greedy and decided to go for one more. I bought an additional 'one-ride ticket' and skied a total of four runs✨⛷✨

Is it close to a miracle that I managed not to fall while skiing four runs?🤣 My husband went flying two or three times, though (lol). I didn't push myself, so (*´艸｀)

The time I spent on the slopes was about five hours. On the way back after changing clothes and getting in the car... the toes on my feet, which I had changed back into sneakers, cramped up😆

When I got home, I quickly took a bath to warm up my chilled body. And that is how I am writing this record now🙌

I was able to do something I had wanted to do for a long time, and it was so much fun🎶 I am grateful to my nephews and my husband for taking me✨

And... I am also grateful to you for reading this~💖 Thank you very much🤗