Parallel Turns
In the video, she slows her descent about halfway down the mountain. As her father praises her effort, her focus turns towards him for but a blink of an eye. The gaze she gives clearly announces, “It’s no big deal, I got this." And then she is off.
My unilateral determination is to require each of you to watch this run from first turn to triumphant last. I mean, honestly, who wouldn't be grateful for the opportunity? You may have your own grandchildren doing their own impossibly cute, immensely critical thing like ending global warming but really could anything hold even a flicker of a candle to this?
In fact, in probably less than an hour's time, thanks to a series of short films I have now managed to cobble together, you will be witnessing her progression from first tentative days on the slopes to her present position on the top of my imaginary podium. I find it wholly unimportant, totally irrelevant, that you don't know the difference between a pizza stop and carving or that you now live in Florida because you think of cold weather and snow in the same way I do of Donald Trump and his verbal acuity. This is my show and I am strapping you into your seat until I give you permission to leave.
So what if your grandkid could read at 6 months old or do multiplication while still in the womb. I mean is there anything more impressive than what you have now been watching with undivided attention for the last 34 minutes and counting? And that half smirk, well that could be the cutest moment ever invented. Let's watch that again. And again.
Next week, she is planning on being back on the slopes. So stop telling me about your grandkid's PHD in string theory physics at the age of four. Who cares.
Mine is starting to make parallel turns.