The Ski Trip

Jeff and I spoke the other day, and he wanted me to tell the story of a Ski trip we took as a family.

In our Chevy Carry-All, we packed up and headed north for a ski trip where the snow beckoned—in Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. Naturally, Heidi and Brutus came along since they traveled with us everywhere we went. 

What happened in Aspen, Col was entirely unexpected. Typically, traveling as we do, we stay in small motels. They were cheap and clean, and we always snuck the dogs in through a side window. 

Brutus and Heidi were trained not to bark when in a strange place. Heidi came into heat in Aspen, so we had to place her in a kennel. The kennel owner loved and treated her like his pet, so she ran free in the kennel and got pregnant. We did not find out until well after we got home. 

While we skied Aspen, Jeff, and I came down the mountain. Lenette and Brutus were waiting for us, but when we skied to them, Brutus was unable to move as he was frozen to the turf.  The fur on his rear end came off when we pulled him away. Poor little guy!

Sun Valley was next, and although we all stayed in one little room, the dogs included, we had a wonderful time. And the same in Utah.  It did not matter where we went; we traveled as a family. We were and are family. 

–oo0oo–

Yesterday was difficult For Jeff and me.

We spoke and cried over what we felt and see.

What we see, feel, and know is you are not with us anymore.

You are gone, and our hearts are broken as never before.

You were so special to both of us while alive.

How do we go on, how do we thrive?

We will, and we know you want us to continue to be.

Until we are together and each other we see.

Time might heal the pain we both feel. Maybe yes and maybe no, your loss to us so real.

–oo0oo–

I feel so close to Lenette this day. 

It is also true I miss her every moment in every way.

I feel her presence and that she watches over me. 

I wish for more than presence but that cannot be.

I want to be with her, is there more I can say?

But she wants me to live, to contribute each day.

It is what we both have done, and each in our own way.

I miss and love her and for me it is bad.Since I can do nothing more than wait, I am sad.   

Author: Sy Ogulnick

Sy Ogulnick received a BA from UCLA, Teacher’s Credential from Los Angeles Board of Education and completed phase I (Master’s portion) in a Doctor of Behavioral Science program at California Coast University. Sy leased and operated a summer day camp in LA. He and his wife then purchased virgin wilderness land in Northern CA, where they built and operated a coed summer camp. They moved to Las Vegas, NV, and purchased, built and operated a community children’s program for families staying in a major resort casino in Las Vegas. They have created programs for children nationwide that employed many people and in the process developed successful training programs for personnel. This led Sy to lecture on how to train staff and the creating of community within the workplace. Sy was then invited to speak at professional conferences on how best to hire and train employees, which led to his becoming a consultant in the art of improving relationships in a work environment and eventually to his epiphany that “Leaders are the primary problem and the answer to the personnel issues that arise in the workplace.” Sy has written numerous papers on the subject of interpersonal relationships, leadership and power. He has lectured throughout the United States, has been interviewed by the media and has appeared on many radio and TV talk shows

One thought on “The Ski Trip”

  1. Sy, I must say that since Lenette passed, your writing and your poetry has been remarkable. Maybe because I’m your nephew it has a more special meaning to me than others. Besides the real and heartful nature of your messages and poems, I really do learn lessons. Your comments absolutely do make a positive difference in my life so I thank you for that!

    Happy to see that you remain productive. Continue to do as Lenette would want you to do, which is daily exercise and to keep living fully!

    I’m wondering what other folks think about your recent writings. Please pipe in with your feedback and suggestions. The more the better. Thank you.

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