Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...January 10, 2009

I am in Vermont today with my two sons and their friend. My RE/MAX owner has graciously offered some of the agents free rooms, ski rentals and lift tickets at Magic Mountain. He owns the Inn here, and the kids and I so needed to get away.

I decided to snowtube as I don't ski...only tried it once about 25 years ago. I went to the top of what I thought was a HUGE hill and looked down and said uh uh. No way was I going down that hill in that tube on packed snow. I walked down halfway, with my leather jacket on and all, knowing that the two guys working the hill were scratching their heads thinking I was crazy. I then gingerly got on the tube and down I went.

I did this for about a half hour and then caught up with my 15 year old. He has coordination issues and has avoided any type of sport his whole life. He said he "hates outside sports, hates the winter, hates skiing, hates ski boots" yada yada. So I told him a story. I said you know when I had to climb the 35 foot ladder I wouldn't do it. I reminded him that I had gone half way up then was just going to quit everything because I was intimidated. He listened and just said I'll meet you inside and gave back his equipment without a word.

Being a teenager, he then ate a chili dog and a huge dish of cheese fries, and said he would take a look at the snow tube hill with me. So there we went, and he went to the top and swoosh came down like a pro. I still went halfway up but he at least didn't scratch his head when he saw me.

Point of the story...I didn't complain that he took five minutes to give up, but gave him a glimpse of something that was more within his reach that he could master. And I know it made him gleeful that he was able to do something in the winter, in the snow.

Will I go to the top tomorrow? Heck no. I have to drive home, and he certainly can't do that. Those big stoppers aren't there for nothing and I saw enough people flip today.

With love from Vermont,

Denise