When I was 11 years old I took skiing lessons. I had a great first half of the day, even though the little 5 year old kids in the class could ski circles around me. I was having fun that is until my instructor took me on an actual run. Homewood ski resort in Tahoe had this funny little bunny run wherein you slid a small disk under your bum and held onto the pole that tugged you up the hill, so your skis are still on the ground, a very important detail in the next part of my story. My coach reminded me let go of the pole AFTER my skis were up and over the hill at the top of the run. So I got to the top of the run, I thought it was time to let go, so I did. What happened next is still the most embarrassing moment of my entire life. My skis had not cleared the little hill at the top and so when I let go of the pole I began to slide backwards knocking all other skiiers behind me off the run. I tried to make it stop, but have you ever tried to use glove covered hands as brakes on slick snow? It does not work. Both of my skis came off, with the boots still attached. I was laying on the hill on my stomach shoeless and completely humiliated. One of the victims who had been knocked off by me just looked at me smugly and said, "So is this your first day?". If I had had shoes on, I would have clocked her!

In true Fitzpatrick form, I managed to get my boots and skis back on, and I got back on that hill and did it again. I still enjoy skiing, though I have to say I still get nervous when getting off a ski lift. I am pretty sure that one will haunt me forever.