Chapter 38. Improving Intermediates

Ski trails come in three varieties—green, blue, and black—because skiers, too, are of three kinds: novices, intermediates, and experts. I happen to be an intermediate skier, have been for years, and expect to be all my life. I'm what ski instructors refer to euphemistically as a classic “improving intermediate,” meaning I'm middle-aged, keep getting better, but not by much and not very quickly. I'm happy. I love skiing and have even survived a few of those dreaded (or lauded) double black diamond trails, usually because I miss the last turnoff onto the kinder, gentler slopes. Mostly, though, I keep my eyes out for those user-friendly blue squares and reassuring green circles.

Skiing has a lot to teach us about ...

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