The Most Dangerous Part of Our Vacation

We are back from Colorado, and I of course have a treasure trove full of stories to share. With the number of boys that participated in the vacation, there was no shortage of adventure and danger. A sampling:

Riding the Alpine Slide, despite the road rash injuries that occurred last time we tried this.

Climbing rock walls and jumping on trampolines where the only safety implements were bungee cords and a high school kid on summer break.

Hiking in places where the beauty is only surpassed by the realization that one false step will cause you to plunge to your death.

Wading in the Colorado River or the water that leads to Adams Falls, where the temperature makes you wish you were wading in a bucket of ice water.

But, of all the places we went and things we did, nothing struck fear in my heart or made me question whether I would see the light of a new day more than one particular activity:

Playing the card game Spoons. And, particularly, playing the card game Spoons while sitting within grabbing distance of my Aunt Patti. She is ruthless. Not even Jack was safe, and I still have a blood blister under my fingernail from where it was bent back when she grabbed the same spoon for which I was reaching. I don't know if anyone walked away from the game unscathed. It was fast-paced and brutal and totally fun and hilarious. I highly recommend it.



Maybe next time, to make it more interesting or to discourage stealing of someone else's spoon (I'm talking to you, Aaron), we should play Knives.