Perfect Bliss

Today was so beautiful it was crisp and clear out, the sun was shining and the air felt so refreshing.  As I went outside this morning I immediately had the most overwhelming feeling brought on by some of the best memories of my life thus far. It took me to the the early mornings when my dad and I wake up at the crack of dawn to go snowboarding. We meet in the driveway connecting our two homes, his truck always already started and warmed up, throw our gear in the back and head on our way.  Radio always tuned  to KUPL country, wave goodbye to my mom if she was awake and off we were.  I love these mornings, no matter how much sleep I got the night before or how tired I am it never matters.  We always have our same routine...stop at brewed awakenings for my coffee and dads smoothie, then when we hit Gresham we get breakfast at McDonald's.  There is really never talk of this plan we both just know that's what we do.  Some days we both have plenty to say, lots to catch up on and thoughts about life.  Other days we are quiet just listening to the radio, both singing when a song we like comes on.  Never any pressure to start conversation if it isn't there, just the perfect comfort of our ride to the mountain.  I love pulling into the parking lot, looking at the beauty that awaits us for the rest of the day.  We both always get excited, its dorky, our enthusiasm for the day ahead is something neither of us can hold back.  Dad got a helmet last year and has not stopped bugging me about when I'm going to do the same, so no matter what I get a tiny lecture about my safety, and how important it is.  We always just both smile, I shrug and we are off.  I love the first run of the day. You are getting your feel for what the mountain is going to give you that day, what is the snow like, how is the terrain, are you going to be on your game that day or is it a clumsy day, or in my dad and my cases are we going to break anything today?????  We are the perfect partners on the slopes, we know what each other are going to do and we never got lost from each other.  When we fall we laugh, we laugh hard!  I can hear my dads laugh perfectly even with him across the world from me, I see his face, the pure joy in his eyes.  It is so clear I feel like he is in front of me, I wish I could be laughing with him.  Looking into eyes that look so much like my own, seeing the man who has given me so many of his traits, and seeing his bliss.  Moments when he has no worries, no phone to answer, he has nothing to do but take it all in, we are just in our own world together father and daughter.