Synaptic Breakthrough.

My youngest did one of those synaptic-connection things where he kind of practiced something for a few days, then suddenly GOT IT. Yesterday, he couldn't ski five feet without falling down. Today... well...

Today was the most fun I've ever had skiing. Although I missed the morning because of the furnace outage back in Westchester, I hooked up with Maggie mid-morning and went on some really fun runs with her.

I challenged Maggie to a race, and she completely smoked my slowpoke ass.

After lunch, we went on one more run, then picked up my daughter and son from ski school. (My oldest was at adventure camp for the day.)

I went three bunny-hill runs with my daughter, then up the big quad to the green runs. On the way down, my daughter suddenly took off. I called out "slow down, honey! slow down!" but off she went, around a big turn and out of site.

I sped up to try and catch her. When I came around the big turn, she was nowhere to be found. I saw her, finally, HUNDREDS OF YARDS AHEAD, near the bottom of the hill. Stopped. Waiting for me.

I passed a group of folks taking lessons. I heard the instructor say "like that little girl who just went by." I turned around to look at the instructor, crossed my skis, and went tumbling down the hill, losing a ski in the process.

I got up, got my ski back on, and went to meet my daughter.

I pulled into meet her, she said "Daddy where were you?" I said: "I fell down." She laughed and said "That was you I saw?" Oh, it was.

The next thing I know, Maggie is next to me, saying "Look! Look!" And there was our youngest, making lazy s-curves on the green hill, showing a control and ability that, compared to the day before, was leaps and bounds ahead. Startling, really.

Yay, synaptic connections. Youth is SO cool.

The four of us went on another couple of runs, then home. Maggie picked up my oldest when Adventure Camp ended.

The evening ended wonderfully: we dropped the kids at a Sugarbush Pizza and Movie night, and Maggie and I went out to dinner at "Timbers," the new restaurant at the bottom of the mountain. DInner was actually quite good... and Maggie and I tried about six different Vermont cheeses.

Reason number 217 that Maggie and I are a good couple: we both love cheese course.

Tomorrow, we look at Vermont real estate.

This was a GREAT vacation day. Possibly the best ever.

Love to all. Even you, the lady who tried to take my kid's seat at the movie.