I keep thinking about Elder Wirthlin's last conference address today. He talked about how we should laugh when things don't go as planned and they will become fun unexpected memories. That is how this day has gone.
First of all we got up this morning when my alarm went off and hurriedly tried to get out the door by 6 a.m. to make it to Mt. Hood in time to rent gear and get to our lesson by 8:30 a.m. We were a little panicked that it was already 6:30 when we left. We get in the car and the clock in the car said 5:30. Chris said it must have just got bumped. So I pulled out my cell phone and sure enough it is 5:30 a.m. What? You mean we got up an hour early? I got up at 4:00 a.m.?
We get to Timberline and open the car door and ice is pelting us in the face. I wanted to curl up in a ball and say, "I'll wait right here. Have fun." I should probably give some background here at this point in the story.
Aunt Sue is visiting us from California. She called last week before she came and asked if I wanted to take a snowboarding lesson with her. The conversation went like this:
"Hey, Darilyn. I was thinking that while Chris and the girls are skiing and snowboarding that you and I could take a snowboarding lesson. I'll pay for it. It can be my birthday present to you."
Stunned Silence
In a whisper to Chris, "Chris, she wants me to take a snowboarding lesson with her."
I think he could see the panic on my face because he just grinned. He just loves to see me in a bind. I mean I could tell that Aunt Sue wanted to take a lesson and she wasn't going to do it by herself. So I really felt like I should. I don't have any desire to snowboard. My idea of a good ski day is to sit in the lodge watching my husband and children ski and me reading a good book. The idea of going 20 miles an hour downhill does not thrill me. It terrifies me. And i don't want to be wet and cold.
"That sounds great Aunt Sue. Let's do it."
So when I felt that ice on my face I really wanted to whine like my youngest can do. But I didnt. I got out of the van and Chris forced those dang snowboard boots on me and handed me a board. He says, "It works best if you carry it like this." And then he shows me. "Whatever."
Oops, I knew I had let a little of my bad attitude show with that little slip.
We get inside the lodge and there is a large group of employees listening to a woman talking. I knew they were employees because they had TIMBERLINE somewhere on their jackets or shirts. I'm really smart like that. She is saying something about it's their decision if they want to stay or not. I wanted to raise my hand and volunteer to go home for them. She is saying something about ten o'clock. I'm growing more and more interested in this conversation. Employees going home? Letting the resort customers know?
Let us know what? I HAD to know.
"Chris, go ask what is going on." He dutifully listens to me and asks someone at the desk.
"Timberline is closed due to a power outage."
My eyes got wide and I tried to conceal the smile on my face and gave a wistful shaking of my head when the girls were disappointed. "yeah, that really is too bad." yeah, I'm a liar.
Chris looked at me like I had prayed for it or something. I mean I wouldn't do that.
So we piled back in the car and headed home. But that wasn't the end of our funny day. You see when Chris had put everything back in the car top carrier he forgot to lock it. So when we were barreling down I 84 I hear this Bonk, Kerplunk noise. I asked Chris what that was and as I am asking him a truck next to us honks his horn. We pull over and sure enough our carrier is open and Chris has to walk a 1/4 mile back to retrieve one very mangled snowboarding helmet, one glove, two wrist guards and one destroyed pair of goggles.
So this wasn't me today:
Maybe next time.
