Boarded

Our niece, Brooke, turned 18 last month!  How is that possible?  It seems like Mike and I were just taking this little girl on a weekend trip to North Conway, New Hampshire, where she frolicked (and fell) on the town's playground.  How fitting then that the Coyne and Bartoloni families celebrated this wonderful occasion back in North Conway.  Sue visited from Hong Kong and put the weekend together, which made it extra special.

 

Besides a birthday dinner at the Muddy Moose Pub, half the crew spent Saturday afternoon skiing/snowboarding at Cranmore.  Brooke and I chose the latter, and I have been paying for it since.  Having never boarded before, I wanted to give it a try and see what it was like.  I think it's safe to say that was my first and last snowboarding adventure.  I had no idea how to maneuver or stop, and every time I gained any sort of momentum, I panicked and threw myself into a huge, tumbling stop.  By about halfway down the mountain, I was seriously considering walking the rest of the way down, but I stuck with it, soaked and winded as I was (oh, yeah -- did I mention I was wearing only jeans instead of snow pants?).

 

After one long tumble -- er, run -- down the beginner slope, Brooke and I called it quits.  Lunch and a couple pinot grigios helped ease some of my aches and pains.  Complaining aside, we did manage to have fun and a lot of laughs.  Still, at least now I know that next time I hit the slopes, it will be on two skis and not a single board!

 

We all had a wonderful time together, and even though every trip to North Conway is now bittersweet, I'm so grateful that place has given our family so many happy memories.

 

Happy birthday, Brooke!