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My Downhill Dive in Winter Park Without Ever Hitting the Slopes

Three weeks into dating, my boyfriend invited me on a ski trip. I, however being of sane mind, respectfully declined this trip. Fast forward five years later and it has been an ongoing joke that, due to the fact that I said no to this first ski trip, I have been cursed to never go on a ski trip with my boyfriend ever again. And as it turns out, for some reason or other, although he goes skiing every year, I had yet to have been able to go.

With that being said, this year I was determined to finally accompany him on our first ever couple ski trip. I was so excited....skiing the slopes all day, cuddling up next to the fire at night with a cup of hot chocolate with just a hint of Bailey's Irish Cream...it was going to be great!

The morning of the ski trip arrived and I had everything ready. I packed all the cute new clothes I had bought so that I would look the part of the cute, athletic snow bunny I knew I was destined to be, my new ski pants, and my $70 Burton ski gloves. Burton ski gloves? Come on; I was so ready for this.

We arrived in Winter Park on a Thursday morning, around 11 a.m. to be more precise. I knew I was not going to want to hit the slopes right away after a two hour plane ride and an hour car ride; therefore, I opted to settle into the hotel room and get the lay of the land while my boyfriend hit the slopes right away. Besides, not having been skiing in several years, I thought I would give him some time to snowboard on his own without having to wait for me while I tried to remember how to ski.

I enjoyed a beautiful sunny day in Winter Park perusing the shops, grabbing a Starbucks coffee, and watching the skiers fly down the hills. Shortly after four, my boyfriend joined me back at the hotel and we decided to check out the outdoor hot tub. It was all that I thought it would be....the water was so hot, but the air outside was cold enough to see your breath. The juxtaposition of hot and cold combined with the crackle of the fire in the giant stone hearth gave way to a wonderfully relaxing experience...

Until we got back to our room. That's when my doomed fate finally caught up with me! I thought I had broken the curse, I was so prepared, I planned for so long, and then....it happened...

I was cold, SO COLD. I couldn't get warm. My boyfriend thought I must have gone insane. I was shivering uncontrollably; I just couldn't get warm no matter what I did. While I lied there freezing, having no idea what was going on, and just feeling miserable, we heard this..."PLEASE EVACUATE THE BUILDING. I REPEAT, EVERYONE, EVACUATE THE BUILDING. YOU MUST LEAVE THE PREMISES." Oh my God; Was this really happening?

We threw our shoes and coats on and headed outside along with everyone else from the hotel. So now, not only was I freezing, I was forced out into the 30 degree Colorado weather! After what seemed like forever, we were let back in by the hotel staff who simply apologized for the inconvenience, yet gave no indication as to why we were out there to begin with.

When we got back to our room, we began Googling what could possibly be wrong with me. Altitude sickness? We decided to go to bed and hope for the best in the morning.

After an extremely restless night's sleep I realized that not only was I not feeling better, I was feeling progressively worse. So, once again, my boyfriend hit the slopes on his own while I slept and slept, hoping that whatever came over me would go away soon.

At lunchtime, my boyfriend came back to check on me. He made sure to tell me that he found a great bar at the top of one of the slopes and that "They had amazing double Bloody Marys!" He further elaborated that he also met a very nice couple to whom he shared of my miserable state and they all shared a small pity party over vodka and tomato juice.

By Saturday morning I was in such a miserable state that I finally gave in and decided I had to see a doctor. So, we packed up the car and drove to the nearest clinic we could find. I paid $100.00 for them to tell me, "Yes, it's the flu..." and "I can write you this prescription, but I wouldn't fill it if I were you because it probably won't do you any good. "

And so here it stands, after five years together I am doomed to a life without the soft white powder under my feet or the cold, winter air of the high altitudes blowing in my hair.....at least with my boyfriend anyway!