2009 March

Florida

On March 15, 2009, In Uncategorized, By Kelly

Spring break was great…and sooo needed. I’ve never craved a break like I did this one. School has been taking its toll, but a little Florida sun with Grams was just what I needed. It was a week in Lady Lake, Florida, sitting by a pool, hitting golf balls, and driving the golf cart like it was Grandma’s Cadillac. Awesome. It was a twelve hour drive, but it included a stop in Augusta, Georgia for a visit with Fabien (fellow french friend and tennis star) and a quick stop over in Savannah, Georgia. It was just a glimpse, but we stopped long enough to hop on a scenic tour trolly through historic Savannah. Nanuq was even jumped aboard for the fun…It’s a beautiful southern city that is at the top of my must-see-again list.

The Almost Cover

On March 6, 2009, In Uncategorized, By Kelly

This photo by Steve Lloyd was originally lined up for the January cover of Skiing…but it got bumped. It still made the cut for a full page in the same month’s issue, but it would have been even cooler as a cover. Steve used his artistic vision wisely and took a beautiful pic, a shot that has become one of my favorites. We got this shot just after sunrise on a morning tour up Mount Superior, across the street from Snowbird. Steve scoped out the dead tree, and with a little luck and timing….we got it. I think it’s a unique shot, so I figured I’d post it up.

C’est la vie

On March 1, 2009, In Uncategorized, By Kelly

I’ve spent the entire fall and this winter in a life foreign to me….it has felt like a completely new identity. While I’ve always seen this as a challenge and adventure, it taken some time to adjust. I’ve sat in front of the computer screen on multiple occasions with a blank stare; I just haven’t known what to write.

(Nanuq has to humor me while I dress him in human clothes, but he’s happy)

There’s no pics of high, snow capped mountains, gnarly couloirs, or beautiful summits. My fear has shifted from avalanches and high-risk exposure to pharmacology and pathology exams. I’ve traded my freedom of the mountains for an opportunity to gain a freedom greater than I’ve known before….the freedom to help and heal. It’s taken me these last several months to see that my adventure here may be subtle in comparison to before, but vast in its own way.

I’ve struggled to find comfort in this path that I’ve bolted my feet upon, but I finally feel that there is a lot to share while I’m here. I’ve seen a lot….I’ve learned a lot. I’ve seen illnesses and pain that I’d never known. I’ve seen a man die in a matter of minutes. And I’ve seen people heal and gain hope. It may not be the glamorous Aguille de Midi, but it’s beautiful in a different way. It’s a detour back to the path I knew before, and I want to share it.

(Christmas time in Durham)

Durham is my home for now, and I had an awesome Christmas break that allowed me to visit my home in Montana and my buds in Utah. It was a nice breather, and I have a highly anticipated spring break coming up after this week of school. Florida and sun, here I come!