The other day on FirstNews, we had a story that featured a couple in their 80s who still enjoyed water-skiing. After the story ended, I mentioned to my morning co-horts, Donna Pitman and Jere Gish, that I used to water-ski quite a bit back in Wisconsin. Their jaws dropped...their eyes widened....and, nearly in unison, they said "YOU?" Okay, it is clear to even the most casual observer that I am older than either of these fine young journalists. Who am I kidding? I have ties older than they are. I have lots of gray hair. I have to wear my glasses more and more often and, even then, can't always see what I am supposed to see. My middle age has caused my middle to age...and spread. My chins and jowls weigh more than Donna and Jere combined. Just this morning, I noticed that when I am seated at the anchor desk with them, I look like Gulliver...a middle-aged Gulliver, both paunchy and punchy. So, my point is, I know I don't exactly look like an ex-Olympian, but I did water-ski!

My dad bought a broken-down, old fishing boat and fixed it up nicely with a 15 horsepower motor. It was behind that boat, that I learned to ski. My brothers all skied. My dad could ski. My mom tried once but took a tumble, held onto the rope and kept her mouth open...not a good combination. Well, learning behind a low-power engine made it very easy to pop-up out of the water behind larger motors. My eyesight wasn't great even then, so I had to wear my glasses with fishing bobbers affixed to the sides, so they would float if they fell off. I looked like someone they would not have saved on Baywatch. When we used to visit the Tommy Bartlett Ski, Sky and Stage show in Wisconsin Dells, all those skiers looked like they could glide off the water and onto the pages of GQ or Vogue. I looked like I should end up on the pages of Field and Stream in the fold-out section called "How to Clean Bull-Head Carp." But, I did water-ski!

It is also quite clear that my own children can't imagine the lump they find half-asleep on the sofa when they get home from school, up on skis or, even, up on his hind legs. Last Christmas, from my loving children, I received the following: three jig-saw puzzles, a couple books with large print, warm socks with a label that claimed they were "Good For Your Circulation!", a big-book of crossword puzzles with pens, a gift-certificate for new, more powerful reading glasses and coasters, no doubt, for the beer steins full of Metamucil they believe I require. All very nice presents and, truth be told, I use and enjoy all of them. But, there is no getting around that they are gifts for the man who has everything except any intention of moving about. Yes...I do spend a fair amount of time in a sitting position, reading or doing puzzles, wearing warm socks, but, once upon a time, I did water-ski!

Sometime, when we go back up to Wisconsin during the summer (admittedly a rather small window of opportunity) I fully intend to show my children that I can water-ski. I haven't attempted it for years and sometimes need at least a 35 horsepower motor to get out of bed in the morning, but I will show them. If that silly squirrel we feature on the news every six months can do it, so can I, even without a bushy tail. You'll know I did it when you see me doing the morning weather from traction. But I did and WILL water-ski!