A Few Firsts

I've had a couple of firsts this past week.

First time trying fish.

If you know me at all, you know my violent aversion to fish. Many have tried to sway me, persuade me, even trick me into eating fish, "Take a bite, it tastes like olives." No. I usually tell them I will cry if they make me. But, there I was on Kelly's couch. He had a plate of salmon in front of him and I had a concerned look on my face. One of Kelly's favorite games is to get me to try new foods. I've eaten: mushrooms, Greek food, German weirdo cabbage and sausages, Hawaiian food... so I had a feeling it was coming. "Just take a little bite." He cut off a piece and then cut that piece in half when I objected to the size of the first. He had that mischievous smile on his face....I know that look. He dangled the fork in front of my face and for some reason, I just can't say no to that boy. I bit down over the fork and chewed. Staccato. Quickly swallowed. My heart was telling me it was wrong, but it wasn't gross enough to make me puke. I did it. I crossed the threshold. Next step for Kelly: sushi. I know it. But I've resisted for so long...

First time skiing. (real pictures to come)

Since Kelly works at Park City Mountain Resort, he knows all the tricks of the trade. So, he got us into a ski lesson. I never thought I'd ever go skiing. I figured it a rich man's sport, something only to be done by those with money and athletic ability: neither of which I have readily accessible. But, there we were. We strapped on the awkwardly stiff boots and walked out into the snow (as well as we could) where we met Harry, our instructor. Our ideal vision that we were to be the only two in the lesson was soon crushed by two Asians named Lee and Young, who spoke the opposite of English. Kelly kept hitting me with his ski pole and I threw snow balls at his coat while Harry explained how to hoist the skis over our shoulders. Once we got our feet locked into the skis, I was in love. You just slide down hills covered in snow! It's amazing! The speed, the wind, the snow... And the chair lift... it's like a rollercoaster. I loved it all. As we rode up the ski lift our second to last time, we saw one little boy sliding down on his butt, his snowboard obviously out of control, screaming, "I CAN'T STOP!" We laughed. I only fell once. I was victorious. Kelly fell zero times. He was even more victorious.
So, it's pretty safe to say we're professional skiers now and you can catch us on the slopes. And it's also pretty safe to say, dating Kelly is the most fun in the world. I'd recommend you try it, but then I'd have to fight you.

This stage in life is funny. We'll only live it once. All of my friends will only be getting married at once, once. I'll only apply for graduation after 5 years at BYU once. I'll only be a student teacher once. I'll only be Kelly's girlfriend playing Nascar pinball once...oh wait. That happens every other day...
But, I guess when you think about it...everything happens once only -- in very specific terms. You may get married twice, but each time will be different and thus, firsts. Even if you do the same thing twice in a row...it'll be different because you'll be in a different position, with a different look on your face, at a different time, with different people, thinking about something completely different. See? Anything can only happen once.
So...Live it up.

Bam. Done.