Changes, by David Bowie

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Turn and face the strange

Ch-ch-changes

Don't want to be a richer one

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Turn and face the strange

Ch-ch-changes

Just gonna have to be a different one

Time may change me

But I can't trace time

- DAVID BOWIE, vibes inspiring this Thanksgiving update from Tim Cunningham

Hello Saints and extended Saint units!

I’m still Tim, and its been a bit since I‘ve had the chance to shake anyone’s hand. These Covid era introductions have had me practicing the chicken dance to get better at shaking elbows with people, but alas, some things just aren’t the same anymore. Take for example that I’m currently sitting at the kitchen table in my home in NH while my cute cowlick of a dog, Rusty, licks my elbow to try and get attention while I procrastinate doing homework by writing a blog post. And for those nonbelievers, yes, I can feel the licking with my elbow; he’s not subtle.

In any case I digress, the point of this blog is to give you an update on how things are going in Tim Land (population: 1 very optimistic senior). So that is what will happen. I returned home after some bittersweet goodbyes at the Powerhouse (a theme house on campus full of people whose biggest personality traits are using their legs to go really far distances at o-dark butt 30 in the morning), on Tuesday the 24th. I’ve missed being home, and having the few days off from school because of Thanksgiving has been a huge relief. Getting to see my family during the big feast for the first time in three years was really special. (We usually miss break with family because the team goes to Canada for this week, but we were spared the “massive inconvenience” that is skiing on snow this year because of the global pandemic). There is no snow here yet, but this morning I went for a beautiful spri… winter run OD up a local mountain. While this isn’t what usually happens in late November in the state of NH, it was still a blast.

Without getting too deep, the run this morning gave my mind the space it needed to think. Google keeps showing us all photos of “this day last year,” photos I’ve seen and, to be fully honest, felt cheated looking at. Those photos are of the old normal, if you’ll allow me to be dramatic, a document of history telling of a time we won’t see again for a bit. If ever. But it raises an interesting opportunity, this rapid change all around us. As athletes we all wake up every day to make ourselves uncomfortable doing intervals in the rain, or roller skiing for 30 miles into a seemingly endless headwind. We push to grow our bodies so that they can do the hard work better, longer, faster. Dealing with Covid carries much more risk with it than ski training does, the danger of accidentally transmitting the virus to our family weighs heavy on everyone. So, I hope you’re all doing well as you read this!

Risks aside though, the changes to every part of this senior fall semester have made me challenge my mind, forcing me to adapt and grow as a human with character to better be able to live through hard times better, longer, and hopefully not faster. The point remains, I’ve taken my time at home to refocus myself and take a look at all the hard work I’ve put into growing as a skier, which is carrying over to growing me as a person who can wade in turbulent waters and be sure I’m still moving the way I want to be: forward.

To surmise: things are going well in Tim Land. I’m healthy, glad to have been around people who can make going to school during a pandemic fun, and getting totally fired up to destroy, erm, compete passionately with some Clarkson skiers every weekend this winter. That's all for me. Smash that email blog notification button and go check out the whole team update coming to the blog soon.

Tim Cunningham ‘21