January 12-16, 2017
Guest Blogger: Master D
Where to begin? …..Amidst my discoveries and experiences while studying abroad both in the city of London and the University of Cambridge, TT and his good friend Chase spent a week mountain biking in Whistler. For those of you who do not know, Whistler is just north of Vancouver Canada and home to the 2010 Winter Olympics. He and Chase fell in love with the resort, and over the course of the next several months convinced their respective fathers to spend a weekend skiing at Whistler. And the fathers obliged and my dear mother roped me in to joining.
At first, I was hesitant to attend. True, it was a wonderful gift taking place over the birthday weekend of my dad and myself, but I feared I would not enjoy it as much as the other guys.
Boy was I wrong.
In fact, I have never had a better time snowboarding in all of my years. We spent three long days at the Whistler Blackcomb resort snowboarding to our hearts content. We hot tubbed in 5 degree weather, tried to help foreigners stand up on skis for the very first time, and rode the longest and highest unsupported tram in all of the world. We snowboarded a glacier four times, because we couldn’t get enough. A fun tidbit regarding the glacier, I fell over trying to get on the t-bar twice. To add insult to injury, or salt to the wound—whatever you prefer—TT and Chase will likely never let me live it down. In my defense, I had never seen a t-bar before and hadn’t the slightest idea how to use it. It reminded me of a swing so I tried sitting on it. Twice. It did not work. But eventually, I became a natural and no one was the wiser to my relative inexperience.
While we were there my father had his 54th birthday. In a strange confusion of pride and embarrassment he urged TT and I to keep it a secret from the other guys. We obliged. Though on his birthday, TT and I ran to the central village an hour ahead of everyone else to create our father’s birthday gift. Just the day before, we had spent a good half hour exploring the underbelly of the fascinating glacier. There we had taken photos that my dad greatly enjoyed. Now I can’t take credit for this, as framing the photo was TT’s idea. I just paid for it. Now if you are wondering if Chase and his dad ever discovered it was my dad’s birthday, the short answer is “yes”. The funny answer is that is wasn’t revealed by TT or myself. My dad spilled the beans. I guess he really did want his birthday celebrated.
You’ll recall how this was the best ski trip I ever had in my life. I don’t think that’s far from the case for any of the other guys. They talked at length about how they wanted to make this adventure an annual enterprise. I doubt I would be as hesitant next time. I’d be even less hesitant if Maddie were to come.
B and Chase’s dad David
Meanwhile back in Draper, Lelu and I (this is Kristin again) were supposed to be heading down to AZ for the weekend. Ari couldn’t go because of cheer and Maddie couldn’t go because of school. I started to feel like I was getting sick and thought a plane ride wouldn’t be a very good idea, so Lelu and I cancelled at the last minute, sadly missing Mark and Pelar’s wedding.
Instead, Maddie came up here and stayed. We literally had a weekend long slumber party, going to the movies, making ridiculous pasta dinner with Aub on Facetime, playing games, doing homework, laughing, telling Maddie most the Taylor stories, sleeping in and decorating the house for the welcome home to the birthday boys. It ended up being a really fun plan B.