Show and Tell - Sledding...The Next Generation

I don't really like sledding. In truth, I get petrified just looking at the sled preparing to move down the hill at what looks like WARP speed. (FYI - I don't like rollercoasters, 3-D movies or things that spin either.)

I do have a reason....

When I was 4 years old my parents got a phone call to "get to the hospital" because I "had an accident sledding." I was on a flying saucer. (remember those?) I was going-down-the-big-hill-at-warp-speed-AND-spinning! Seriously, who that that would be a good combination?

I hit a tree. I bit nearly all the way through my tongue. (Medical note for the curious: they don't put stiches in your tongue - it just heals but remains disconnected.)

*******
When I was 11 years old I was stupid enough to try sledding again. This time I was riding in a 2-person sled with handles. Safe, right? Um - no. The snow that day look innocuous enough, but a light layer of ice/snow had formed on the suface. I was in the back. When we hit mock 12, my passenger bailed. I froze with fear, gripping the handles alot tighter. The sled did a 180, effectively leaving ME going going-down-a-big-hill-at-warp-speed-backwards-and-screaming.

I hit a tree. I blacked out. The last thing I remember hearing was my friend climbing back up the hill screaming, "Cara's dead! Cara's dead!". Good times.

Do you see a pattern? SLEDDING + CARA = HIT TREE.

So, you can see why I have a minor trepidation about sledding. My kids - L.O.V.E. it. So does my husband. He ups the anti by creating jumps and bends in the track. I, try and control the inordinate amount of fear for my children's lives and the bark of a tree or two -- and take the pictures.

Bear is in the middle (the safest spot I reasoned) between her cousins. They sled together all afternoon.

But, my Comedian wouldn't be worth her salt if she didn't give me at least three mini-heart attacks that day. YES - she went down ALL BY HERSELF!


And attempted to climb up by herself too. She had an assist about half way there.

She thought it would be worth trying to go down on her stomach. (um- did you SEE that hill?) I couldn't watch, but I did capture the smug look on her face afterwards!


"Did you have fun sledding girls?" I asked in an animated voice. They stared up at me with red cheeks and big smiles. "Yup!" They answered in unison.

"Mom" Bear said, "I was going to ask you to go down with me, one time."
"Oh" I replied conversationally, "What did you think I was going to say?" "AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH" she answered, shrugged her shoulders and went in the house.