Snowmobile For Sale

I don't usually write when "on vacation," but I am inspired by today's events and have to share.

But before I tell you my story, let me just say to readers who are part of the "Jericho/Plainview robbery ring,"... "the house is occupied by both dog and human" (I had to say that or Marge would say in her most annoying twang, "Why would you tell the world you are not home?")

So I'm not home. I am in Beaver Creek, Colorado with Eric, kids and Eric's parents, affectionately known in our inner circle as "Poppy Marty and Grandma Linda."

Poppy and Grandma don't ski, so in the spirit of togetherness, Grandma suggested we go snowmobiling...."something we can all do together." The kids think this is a brilliant idea, so I "go with the flow."

We go to the snowmobiling park, suit up in ridiculous helmets, each looking like "Speed Racer," and we get three double snowmobiles (each seats two). Syd wants to drive, Max wants to drive....and despite what I know about the dangers of these types of adventures, like injuries on ATV's which I view as similar vehicles, I find myself looking like the Great Gazoo from the Flintstones, sitting behind a twelve year old driver (Syd) who never drove anything but a Big Wheel, looking behind me at Eric sitting behind a 15 year old driver (Max) who is mumbling something about "tearing it up" and looking behind them at the in-laws, who I am pretty sure have never even seen a snowmobile before riding this one, Marty in the driver's seat...

And as I am holding on for dear life and thinking, "this is not smart," the rest of the group which was behind Poppy and Grandma are yelling for us to stop. We do and when we look back all we see is a snowmobile hanging between four trees (I'm talking suspended) and we do not see Poppy or Grandma. Eric and Max get there first and all they see is powdery snow....till Linda's face pops up spitting snow....then Marty's....and within a minute we learn no one is hurt....though Poppy has never been in three feet of powder snow and he is convinced his legs don't work....

Now this may seem inappropriate but I proceeded to giggle, uncontrollably for two or three hours. Actually, I am lying. It has been 8 hours or so and I am still laughing. We wanted to go snowmobiling, not buy one. Do you know how much it costs to ship a snowmobile from Colorado to New York? Anybody want to buy a slightly damaged snowmobile?

Seriously....it took a while, but Poppy and Grandma are now laughing too and we all agree that maybe one should not try any snow sport for the first time when they are of "a certain age." I don't know...but I love their spirit of adventure, their overriding desire to experience all things they think their grandchildren will enjoy...at all costs...and I am only laughing because we were lucky. There were literally cliffs on the first five minutes of the ride with no guardrails and we could have had a serious problem...but we didn't. I am sure we will tell this story for years to come and for me it will be a funny memory of a great trip.....and besides, the kids always wanted to own a snowmobile.