ali log burning fire i first had her as a student when she was three. now three years later, she returned. "dad is making me do blues!" she said, exasperated. "we'll stay on the greens," i said. "until you're more confident." he had had rented her skis way too long for her and it frustrated her so i fixed it with ones more for her size and it made her very happy. she talked about her little life to me, opening up like a flower in the bright sun. i took her to the wishing rock. she accepted the snowball i gave her and whispered her hopes and dreams into it, melting a tiny spot in it with her warm breath, then tossed it with all her might. hitting the broad surface, it stuck. white on brown. simple, magical evidence of her faith. we skied together like friends. back inside the school, her family met us. ali had painted me a picture the night before with my name on it. from alison vin ke to it said. i bent down with her and as snow dripped off my helmet, i asked her to tell me about it. every color of her obvious happiness was there mirroring the love that was bursting out of me. 130101 what's it to you? who go blather from