My neighbor and one-time ski buddy

My neighbor, John is now 84 and I skied only once with him, on February 23, 2017, when he still was 78. I remember taking him at Park City’s Jupiter and down Portuguese Gap, a very challenging slope where he more than held his own. 

For years, John has been driving to nearby Alta to ski (between 45 minutes to one hour depending on the road conditions) even though he could have done it, right here in Park City, but he had fallen under the place’s spell; don’t ask me why. 

In the meantime, he’s had multiple surgeries and replacement on his knees, foot and shoulder, but always rebounded, seemingly invincible. Talk about a forever-bionic skier! For the last couple of years however his legendary vitality has showed some decline. 

So, a few days ago, when I stopped by his house to chat for a few minutes, he said that he only skied 15 times this season compared to some 50 to 70 times in previous years. Things are changing fast for him, as they do for many folks who seem invincible for very long periods of time. 

There always seems to be a step-down waiting for them. So our destinies are pretty simple: Some of us are declining very gradually, others get their major step-down earlier and linger sick, handicapped and/or suffering for many years, while a smaller rest stays “forever-young” till, boom! A brutal step-down ends their bliss in a hurry.

 I kind of like that last option. What about you?