I have had my share of loses and there is nothing worse than losing someone whose job was to bring light into everyone else’s life. There was nothing better than trudging up to the East side ski school house at Loon as a part timer, leaving the work week behind and being greeted by Chip’s great big smile as he would say “welcome back to the great white mountain playground”. He made work fun because it was just plain old fun being around him. He seemed to find joy in everything. While training for level 2, and getting frustrated with my skiing, one day he simply said, skiing is a series of linked recoveries. Of course he made me laugh…..and I’m sure I said something like, I think I need to make the recoveries a bit less noticeable – but never the less, as usual he made me laugh. I have used that with many a client as well as with in staff training.
As always, skiing is a microcosm of life - life is just a series of linked recoveries as well. Chip, my heart is saddened that you were not able to recover from your final challenge, but it was a long one and a painful one and I understand why you chose to leave. But now when I pray to the snow gods…for whatever the reason, I know you will be right up there with them – knowing full well that with every blue bird sky, your smile is shining down on us all.
Maggie, words can not ever express deep sadness. I can only hope you can find a way to live your life with the same light that Chip carried throughout most of his. Namaste. Margie King
