When I was a boy we would get enough snow to justify a day of sledding about one year out of three. On special occasions we would go up to one of the nearby mountains to sled, in earnest, as a family. On my brother’s birthday one year, my brother-in-law Dan and I took Brandon up to the sled run on Snoqualmie Pass. Brandon was 8 or 9, and on his first run he landed at the bottom in a shallow pool of water that had collected there. To his credit, he refused to call it a day and we spent the next four hours working up an appetite.
Today the Funks took me with them on a morning drive to the cabins on Mount Lemon. Mount Lemon is the southern most ski resort in the United States, and it is a beautiful park. On the mountain-spiral climb from Tucson there are dozens of rock formations reminiscent of the mascot from the Vancouver Olympics. So slow-carved by the gentle erosion of the high desert, these rocks are magnificent. With snow sticking to the shaded parts of the mountain, the desert highway is beautiful.
Shortly after we reached the sledding area my sister asked me if I would carry the backpack containing the Funk family’s foster child. Isaiah is a lot of baby. I was more than happy to bear him for the rest of our time there. Natural wonders were not the only things to see on the mountain. The shattered remains of poorly constructed, plastic sleds were everywhere along the base of the sledding hill. Bright green, orang and blue littered the fresh snow. Katie had a friend, and her friend’s family along. They brought the number of our party up to 12.
Everyone had a chance to get in as many sledding runs as they wanted too. Daniel was taking photographs with his great-lensed camera, enjoying his growing children on a rare day off.
Kara was the general, always standing by to distribute care, comfort, justice, or food as needed. I find that I really enjoy taking orders from competent leaders. I am satisfied to participate however is most advantageous for her because I know she puts the family first in all things, and that is what I strive to do as well.
albaniacalling 