Neither of my parents were enthusiastic skiers. Dad owned a pair of old-fashioned wooden skis with archaic bindings and no metal edges that hung neglected on our shed wall. I don’t recall ever seeing Dad or Ma on skis, but our neighbors were fanatical skiers. Putter Blodgett, his wife Mary, and their children: Peter, Susie, Boo and Patty, were all devoted skiers. Our families were entwined, so my three siblings and I became skiers too.
We often rode in the Blodgett’s Ford van, a pile of kids and their skis merrily heading to Northeast Slopes in East Corinth. Our skis and boots might have been second-hand, and our skiing clothes unfashionable, but our parents made sure that we were able to participate, and they spent $22 apiece for season tickets. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to experience flying downslope at breakneck speed when I was young enough to feel invincible.
The first two lines of my song, “If I Could Do It All Again” are: “In days gone by I felt like I could touch the sky. I thought I knew that I was bulletproof.” When I was a teenager, I possessed a youthful illusion of indestructibility as I vaulted high into the air off a ski jump and tried to execute a 360-degree “helicopter turn.” I’d seen this stunt performed on television. Unaware that the skiers who accomplished it wore shorter, lighter skis than mine, I tried again and again to rotate all the way around before reaching the ground. I fell every time, then foolishly tried again. Lord knows why I didn’t maim myself during these attempts.
Mary Blodgett noticed my reckless behavior and convinced me to wear a helmet. On the first day that I wore the helmet, I also wore a brand-new scarf that I had received as a Christmas present. The beautiful green-and-white scarf was so long that when I wrapped it around my throat twice it hung loose a couple feet on each end. I grabbed hold of the rope tow and whizzed upslope. My scarf became entangled in the rope. Frantically trying to free it as I neared the top, I lost my balance and was dragged headfirst into a tree. The helmet protected my head. Shortly thereafter I was dragged into a safety switch that shut down the tow. I disentangled the scarf and continued, temporarily, to feel bulletproof.
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion. For bookings call 802-754-8889.
Upcoming Gigs:
Bull Wheel at Jay Peak on Saturday, January 31 from 4 to 7
Iron Rail in Woodsville on Thursday, February 26 from 5 to 8

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