Though I’m a man of few words, I do actually have a lot to say. I’ve covered a few things here, probably enough to think about for a while.
It’s been said, probably many times over many years, that "the best things in life are free." If that’s the case, then why do so many people seem to think they NEED that new Lexus, $900 purse or the 7000 square foot home? Why do so many people feel the need to live in excess? When did ’the little things’ stop meaning so much and become overrun with desire to posess? Is it greed? Is it because they lead boring lives completely void of humbling experiences? I guess I just see so many people focused too much on material things that enhance their net worth, and not things that enhance their LIFE, their character, their entire existence. It’s rather sad that it seems only in times of disaster are most people brought to their knees, only then do they realize how fragile we humans are. Only then do they truly begin to value their life, just being alive, having their friends and family alive, etc. Of course no one is perfect, and I will be the first to admit I have taken things for granted from time to time, but I try to place value on the things that I’d miss most if they were gone. And just to clarify this, when I say ’things’ I am not referring to anything material, the things I’m referring to cannot be held in your hand, hung on your wall or parked in your garage.
A few months ago, I was snowboarding with some friends at Whistler and I had a rather memorable experience. While waiting in a lift line I noticed Natasza Zurek standing nearby, just minding her own business eating a granola bar. We ended up being on the chair behind her and when we got to the top I went over to say hello. Though I’d never met her before, I’ve read many interviews over the years and always held her in very high regard. She seemed to think very much like I do and I’ve always admired her skills and possibly most of all, her ability to remain humble. I introduced myself and we talked briefly about living in Canada, how much snow had fallen so far, etc. We talked about how much fun snowboarding is and then she asked me, "Do YOU love snowboarding?" almost as if it were rare to encounter another person who felt the same way. I said I do, and that it’s the only thing that really makes me feel alive anymore. We went our separate ways but that question has stuck with me, and as rare as it may be to encounter someone who truly loves snowboarding, I think it’s even more uncommon to encounter someone who is so down-to-earth, realistic and humble as she is. It seems like any day you go snowboarding there’s always some fool who think it’s okay to cut you off or snake your line because they just spun their first 540 and they’re going to be the next Shaun White. Sorry kids, but attitude only takes you so far in life. We need more people like Natasza. We need more people with a true love and passion for things that no amount of money could ever buy. It doesn’t matter if you love snowboarding, painting pictures, or watching grass grow...pour your heart into it and feel the LIFE it breathes back into you. Feel the satisfaction of doing something yourself, or better yet, doing something for someone else. I know this blog is going all over the place, but hang in there, I’ll get to the point eventually.
I wore a helmet while snowboarding a few times early in the season but got out of the habit at some point, probably because I was riding so much powder and not really thinking I’d need it. On the morning of Friday March 21st, I put my helmet on for the first time since mid December, and set out to enjoy the new snow. It was softer and deeper than I had expected, so I made my way to the backside of the mountain to ride some steeper terrain. To make a long story a little shorter, I was riding down a narrow (single cat width) trail, going approximately 35 mph. There were 3-4 people about 100 feet ahead of me when I came around the last corner before the trail drops to a flatter area with a wide, slow corner. I was moving faster than the people in front of me but they were doing their own thing and I watched the first person I’d come up upon first as they did mild carves, staying entirely on the right side of the trail. The people in front of this person had accelerated and were much farther ahead by this time, so I saw my opportunity to make it to the flat corner without slowing down. Right about as I got up to the person riding on the right of the trail, they made a sudden sharp left turn, right into me. I had nowhere to go but off the trail. The next thing I knew, I was laying in the snow, leaning downhill slightly with blood running out of my nose like a faucet and my right eye wouldn’t open all the way. I looked back up hill to see that I apparently hit a tree, which pretty much brought me to an immediate stop. My goggles were in my hand, though I don’t remember taking them off. Luckily the guy who ran into me was very concerned and talked with me and we determined he was okay but I defnitely needed to get some help. After about 10 minutes of laying there (all I wanted to do was lay there, things didn’t look right), I still couldn’t get the bleeding to stop. At the time I didn’t know, but my goggle lenses had broken and apparently sliced me pretty good above and below the eyebrow, which also bled a lot. We finally rode the rest of the way to the bottom of the chair, where I decided I was well enough to ride up to the top. The second I got on the chair I realized I probably should have waited at the bottom, but it was too late to change my mind and I made it to the top alright. When I got to the top of the chair, Ski Patrol was waiting for me. They gave me gauze for my eyebrow and oxygen, which didn’t really seem to help. Then they took me down in a tobaggan, and some ambulances took me to the hospital. The end result? My nose is broken and has been pushed to the right, my right eye is partially full of blood, ten or so stitches above the eyebrow, a few below, cheekbone broken in at least 3 places and pushed back into my face which apparently pinched off some nerves, I have no feeling whatsoever in the right side of my nose, right upper cheek/under eye and both right and left (why the LEFT side??) temples. My jaw seems to be in the same place, but because the bones above it are broken my teeth don’t line up the way they used to. The next day my knees hurt and it appears that I must have almost straddled the tree (good thing my board prevented this!) as both knees had huge bruises on the inside and the left knee was scraped pretty good. Nothing permanent though, thankfully! Other than being in a little pain, occasional dizziness, and a fair amount of discomfort I’m doing alright.
Various people have since said to me, "That’s why you gotta wear a helmet!" and I have had to correct them, "No, you don’t understand...I WAS wearing a helmet." I’m not exactly sure what would have happened had I not been wearing it, but I do know that you never hear much from people who hit their head on a tree while moving at 35mph and NOT wearing a helmet. Probably because they’re in a coma, brain dead, or just plain...dead. Without knowing how close I came to any of those results, it’s hard to say how ’lucky’ I am, but I feel pretty damn lucky! Having several days to reflect on what happened and what could have happened, it really made me think of many things. It makes me realize how important family and friends are, as well as allllll of the little things we do every day that we take for granted. Everything from breathing through our nose to chewing food, being able to fall asleep comfortably or even just yawning. I thought about all of the things I love to do, and how much I’d miss them if I were never able to do them again. I thought how much I wish I could just go up to the mountain, ride down a ways and just sit down and look around, breathing in all the fresh air and listening to the sounds, watching my good friends having fun, etc. It reallly made me saddd to think about losing that, among other things.
I read an interview with Jonaven Moore in Snowboard Canada magazine recently, and I’d like to quote a few things he said because...well, because I don’t think I could have said them any better myself. SC magazine basicly asked how he would justify or explain the risks he takes (as we all do) to someone who doesn’t know or understand why we do it. "It really comes down to the love [you have] for something. I’ve had quite a few friends die snowboarding, and I can honestly say they were so truly in love with the mountains and the connection they found there. We do some crazy things when we’re in love." I couldn’t agree more. Just look at the things people do when they are in love with anyone or anything, not just snowboarding. We do some crazy things when we’re in love. They also ask him about an accident he had where he broke his jaw in 4 places, and what he learned from it. "...I went into it your average, reasonably attractive, white kid--things really don’t come much easier to you on this planet. I woke up in the hospital and looked in the mirror at a face I didn’t even recognize. I looked like my head should be attached to someone who weighed more than 300 pounds. It’s come a long way since, but the aesthetics of my facial structure were downgraded on some level, and they’ll never be the same again. We have a lot attached to the face we see in the mirror. It is very much who we perceive ourselves to be, and I don’t think I’m being shallow by saying that s much as I’m being honest. That one accident has taught me so much about how I look at people, what I see in people and what really matters." What really matters. WHAT REALLY MATTERS.
So what really matters? A new Lexus? That $900 purse? The 7000 square foot home? I may never get the feeling back in my face, and it may never look like it used to, but I’m okay with that because I do realize that I AM lucky. I’m the lucky one! Countless people are hurt every day, far worse than I am right now. Some will never see again, some will never walk or talk again, some will never wake up from their sleep and some will never think clearly again. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Be thankful for what you DO have today, and again, I’m not talking about material things. Be thankful that you woke up this morning, and that you are able to push your own shopping cart around the store, and that you see someone extraordinarily handsome or beautiful when you look in the mirror. Go outside and take a deep breath of fresh air and just be happy you can breathe! And every time you do something that seems rediculously mundane, just remember that there are millions of people worldwide who can no longer do those things and would probably trade anything for one more walk through a park, one more breath of fresh air, one more look at something beautiful, one more minute with a loved one. Someone once said that the moment we are born, we begin to die, and it’s true. We only have so many hours, so many days to spend doing whatever it is we choose to do with our time. Once we’re gone, we’re gone for good, and the same goes for those we love. Money can be wasted, time can be wasted. You can earn new money, but you can never regain wasted time. I’m not concerned whether you agree or disagree with me, I just ask that if you happen to have read all of this that you take some time and determine what is truly important to you, what things you truly love and are passionate about. And remember, I’m not talking about material things!!! Watch the news someday. Though it’s unfortunate, you’re bound to see coverage of some disaster somewhere and inevitably you’ll see people involved in it and possibly catch a glimpse of what is really important to them...and you.
