Aloha fellow learn-it-all 👋

Greetings from the Denver International Airport

Happy Winter Solstice Day! Also known as the shortest day of the year. No wonder time has been flying by.

This is my first time opening my laptop in a week. Also, I could not recommend enough deleting email off your phone. It’s refreshing.

Now, let’s dive into letter 189 from a learn-it-all. Enjoy!

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🖊️Writing

Last Thursday night, I left to fly back to the continent where I was born and raised. A little detour before getting back to Michigan. 

I’ve been in Colorado the past week for a ski holiday crashing my cousin’s college trip for some skiing deals. This is my first time skiing outside of the Midwest area and skiing for four consecutive days. This was my second time ever going in a gondola and wowzers it took me to such heights up the mountain at Steamboat Springs reaching an elevation of 10,568 feet. Throwback to when I attempted to bike up the 10,023ft Haleakalā volcano on Maui. This trip was way scarier than that feat because I have never felt like the most competent skiier.

Overall, this trip was a ball and biscuit and I felt like I was an undercover college student. What a throwback.

❓Question to think about

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” -Vincent Van Gogh

📜🖋 Poetry Corner

Below are eight poems I wrote while reflecting on this past week with some fib and free verse. Enjoy :)

Poem (1):

❄️Squeaky Snow 

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedNails on blackboard wail,
Screeching echoes pierce the air,
Squeaky snow underfoot.

Poem (2):

😈 Daredevil Delight

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedI used to not think twice about a steep drop.
The worst thing that’d happen—
That’d never cross my mind.

I’d feel the wind whoosh across my face
I’d bend my knees and get some air
high up in the sky
where the air is thinner
What changed?

Fear.

It walked in
unwelcomed.

Poem (3):

⛷️ My Half-Naked Ski Run 

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedI
feel
suspense.
It went fast.
Everything felt raw.
Nothing at all but tingling thrill.
With my limbs outstretched wide open
I’m an animal.
I shouted
Chee hoo!
Let’s
Go
Again.

Poem (4):

♦ Adrenaline on a Black Diamond

Who needs drugs when you’ve got adrenaline?!
I am a drug. 

Poem (5):

🥶 The Chill of Winter's Embrace

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedThe weather outside is frightful,
Cocoa's warmth, oh so delightful.

Born and raised in Michigan's cold,
But this cold is COLD, a tale unfolds.
Room temperature, a fleeting notion,
Hallelujah for the heat's invention.

I wake with a perpetually parched throat.
And a fog machine, my breath, you see.

Outside my boogers freeze.
Inside, they stream down my upper lip.
In this cold battle, I never win.

Poem (6):

🌿 Prepositions on Powder with Miss Mint

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy feet squeak on
The icy cold snow.

Skis are clipped in
Corduroy belts
Down spur run.

The sun comes out
Clearing a route
That’s what I am
talking about.

What a cat walk.
On strava, Ima
local legend.

The slush comes in
Melting away
ice with a grin.

The vents zip open
In my coat’s armpit
Not a word spoken

Ski boots come off.
Snow boots come on.

Hot coco flows in.
During apres ski
G’day Miss Mint.

Poem (7):

🏔️ Subdued Colors of Colorado

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedGreen fit with a souvenir steamboat sweater
Blue grass tunes in my ears
Beige threads on my head
Maroon toed socks

In the shuttle,
Gray through tunnels
Stark black roads
White stripes
Golden lines.

On the horizon ahead I see
White mountain tips
Brown foothills
Silver plume peaks
With moderate-orange-pink muscovite.

Even in this desaturated view
With such subdue,
What beauty I see.

Poem (8):

🥺 Bittersweet about Steamboat

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedEvergreen smell on the slopes
And fresh air that fills me fully.
I will miss that.

Steam rising off me from the jacuzzi
In the tranquil black night
Melting away the pain from the day,
With the way the jets hit my sore limbs
I will miss that.

My chance to soak the strawberry spring
And that cute lil town’s bookstore
And decorated twinkly lights,
I will miss that.

The way my hair gets all staticky
From wearing a hat all day.
I will miss that.

That cute fella who gifted me hot coco.
My new love language.
I will miss that.

Constant paranoia of my nose
And whether its running or bleeding
I won’t miss that.

The way money flies out of my pocket.
I won’t miss that.

The way ski boots squeeze me
As tight as a boa constrictor eating lunch
I won’t miss that.

Steamboat springs.
I will miss that.
Won’t I miss everything?

🎬 Watching

The 2003 movie “Elf” is such a goodie, and I love this scene of Zooey Deschanel singing “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” in the shower. The director Jon Favreau added this to the script after leaning that she’s a good singer. 

Whether you’re a Will Ferrell fan or not, this is such crisp acting. The themes of identity od oneself, finding belonging and how to spread cheer are evergreen. 

Some miscellaneous ideas this prompted:

• The North Pole dentist is really rolling in dough with the main food groups of elves all consisting of sugar
• I love the idea of a snowball fight. In practive, probably not. I do love laser tag though.
• Telling a good story over and over again is not criminal. It’s an opportunity to make it better each time. Like how Elf did “I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.”

🎧Listening

A christmas music probably would be better here for the season but this song “This Must be The Place” by Talking Heads  has been resonating hulleva lot lately with me. 

Here are my favorite lyrics from it:

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedHi yo I got plenty of time
Hi yo you got light in your eyes
And you're standing here beside me
I love the passing of time
Never for money
Always for love
Cover up and say goodnight, say goodnight

Home, is where I want to be
But I guess I'm already there
I come home, she lifted up her wings
Guess that this must be the place
I can't tell one from another
Did I find you, or you find me?
There was a time before we were born
If someone asks, this is where I'll be, where I'll be

🌟Quote to inspire

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” -Vincent Van Gogh

(tee hee I feel sneaky and put a quote as my question, nothing wrong with a double dipper IMO).

🙏 Shoutout

• To my cousin Christa for being such a stellar ski buddy for this trip. I felt like I became a better stronger skiier and also conquered some internal battles on the slopes. What great company for my first ski trip since a decade ago!

I appreciate you reading this!

If ideas resonate, I’d love you to press the heart button, leave a comment, reply to this email, or reach me at vermetjl@gmail.com. If you forgot who I am, I welcome you to my online home.

Keep on learning 😁

Mahalo 🌺

Jen

PS in case you missed last week’s I wrote about 🚶‍♀️Noticing Nothing Special Moments on My 12 Hour Walk

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