Patty comes from a family of
connectors. Patty's mom could go to any city on the planet and strike up a conversation with someone she just met, and within a few minutes, they'd know someone in common. It was truly amazing. But every kid in the family shares the gift, which maybe is even more amazing.
So brother Doug connected with some really cool people in Winthrop over the last coupla years and we stayed at their place this past weekend and played in the Methow Valley. They happened to be out of town and turned their home over to us, even though we were pretty much strangers. The natural environment was spectacular, but it pales in comparison to the spirit of generosity and trust that we experienced.
The whole deal is just mind-expanding and makes me want to figure out a way to share and exchange what we have to offer. To do something different than the norm of carving out some safe little all-inclusive environment, that's just an illusion anyway.
No, I'm not going off the deep end. I see from your reaction that it's time to shut my trap, but I'll still be thinking about it.
Anyway, on a lighter note. After years of alpine skiing, this nordic stuff was a tough sell. But I think it's starting to take root.
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| From lower right, diagonally to upper left, then from super upper left diagonally down to mid right: Doug, Sue, Joan, Scott, Patty, Pat |
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| Scott and Joan, posing in front of the super-cool suspension bridge that you ski across. |
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| View from the suspension bridge. |
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| Now them'r what I call tracks. |
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| Patty's getting good. Coupla times I was behind her and saw steam rolling off her skis. |
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| Horses dig nordic. |
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| The rolling huts. They're for rent. (They don't really roll.) They're super cool. (There are way better places to actually stay.) |
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| Heated restrooms. Yum. |
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| The scenery's a bit hard to deal with, but we did our best. |
We give the weekend a double thumbs up.
6 comments:
killer spot Pat.
I once slept in a picnic shelter next to that suspension bridge on a bike trip across Washinton. Mazama is a great destination for hanging.
Looks like it would be a killer spot to ride the snow bikes.
As the snow flies
On a cold and bright winter mornin'
An aging Nordic skiier is born
In the Methow
And his knee joints cry
'Cause if there's one thing that they don't need
It's another aerobic sport to feel
In the Methow
Then one day in desperation
The boomer breaks away
He buys some wax, steals a skinsuit
Tries to skate, but he don't get far
And his wife cries
As a crowd gathers round an exhausted old man
Face down in the snow with a pole in his hand
In the Methow
As her husband dies
On a cold and bright winter morn
Another aging Nordic skier is born
In the Methow
Pat S, you are the King.
Love,
Elvis
It's amazing the way some people can open up their lives and their homes to others...it inspires me to try and do the same.
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