A Girl's Side of the Story
I had to get on here before Brett, just this once, to tell my side of a story ;)
Brett has been looking for a snow-go since this fall, and finally found one that fit his needs. He drove it up from Kotzebue a couple of weekends ago and has been on the go ever since. Oren and I have got to accompany him on a few excursions, and I admitted to him that it was alot nicer riding on a machine that was made for 2 people, rather than clinging for dear life on the end of our other one. Maybe I should have just kept my mouth shut.
He has been wanting to take a ride out to the flats and decided Sunday was the day. It was a bit windy, but the trail was sheltered and the sun was shining brilliantly. Now by a "bit windy" let me tell you that it was absolutely whistling down from the north and in the short trip to the actual trail, I was ready to call it quits. My boys both have nice, warm fur hats, but not me. My ear felt frozen, and I'm pretty sure the tip of my nose got frost bite, just in that short trip. When we got to the trail, we stopped to make sure Oren was still warm enough. He hopped off the snow-go right away, looking for his moose. "Moose? Moose?" so we determined he was warm enough.
The trail goes straight past Brett's trapline, which was just too much for him to resist. He jumped off when he realized one of his traps was missing and went searching through the brush without as much as a word to me. Oren went off down the trail in seach of his moose again, so I ambled along behind, coaxing him to turn around before we got too far from the snow-go. It took a few trips up and down the trail before Brett appeared again, with no animal in hand. At this point, I was a little irritated that our nice Sunday ride was getting side tracked, and was a little cold after about 45 minutes of sitting on the trail. I figured I could manage, but was a little concerned that we had Oren. Brett wasn't impressed that I was already ready to throw in the towel. We tracked the marten down a little river on the snow go before doubling back to the trail. We didn't travel very far before he spotted the marten trail again. I told him, "You might as well go get the thing." BIG mistake. Why would I say something so stupid? After a quick lesson on how to use the gun he brought along, he took off throught the trees and powder.
Oren was content walking up the trail looking for moose and caribou, at least for the first hour. Then he started to get a bit restless and began to ask about climbing trees. Now my feet are absolutely frozen, but we're walking and I know Oren's boots are good, so I'm not too worried, just a little annoyed. That annoyance escallated quickly. I realized we had no way to get in contact with Brett. I was expecting having to sit there for MAYBE 30 minutes. Not a chance. Even though Oren has been moving constantly, I was starting to get worried that he was getting cold. I could tell it was nearing his bedtime, as he was starting to get a little worked up when I had him turn around and walk back toward the snow-go. By the time we got back to the machine he fourth time, I was fuming that Brett was still no where to be found. Here I was with our 1 1/2 year old son in the middle of nowhere. How long was he going to leave us? I started the snow-go in hopes he might be able to hear it. Yeah, right. I even eyed up the gun. He'd have to hear if I shot that thing! I thought he might get too worried, so I tried yelling, "BRETT!!!!!!!" Oren even pitched in, "DAAAD!!!"
I was beyond worried at this point. What if he was hurt or lost? What should we do? We had been sitting (walking) on the trail for over an hour. Poor Oren was getting hungry, "Mama, snack?" he kept asking. "Honey, I don't have one. Your dad should be back soon. I don't know why he is taking so long." I repeated this over and over....and over, getting more and more mad and worried each time. I tried amaqing Oren (putting him in my jacket), but the jacket I had on was too small, so he sat on the snow-go seat trying to start the snow-go, "Home, snaaaack?" By this time Oren and I were both in tears. We resorted to yelling again, then heard "WHAT?!?!?!" with the swishing of ski-pants associated with running. "Well you don't have to run" I said half under my breath. By this point I was so happy to see him that I kind of forgot how mad I was. No words were exchanged. He just hopped on the snow-go and we headed home. The funniest part of the whole ordeal was that when we got home after he apologized for the millionth time, Brett said, "I just can't believe that you aren't more mad." HAHA! I said, "You DID NOT hear me when you were gone. By the time you got back I was just so happy you were alive I didn't even care!"
Moral of the story: Set guidelines before going into the country with a guy....or at least communicate expectations!
PS I know many of you ladies asked for more about school life, and I promise to deliver on that soon! Now that Spring is here, I feel like I have a bit more time to get on here. Sorry for the wait!
Brett has been looking for a snow-go since this fall, and finally found one that fit his needs. He drove it up from Kotzebue a couple of weekends ago and has been on the go ever since. Oren and I have got to accompany him on a few excursions, and I admitted to him that it was alot nicer riding on a machine that was made for 2 people, rather than clinging for dear life on the end of our other one. Maybe I should have just kept my mouth shut.
He has been wanting to take a ride out to the flats and decided Sunday was the day. It was a bit windy, but the trail was sheltered and the sun was shining brilliantly. Now by a "bit windy" let me tell you that it was absolutely whistling down from the north and in the short trip to the actual trail, I was ready to call it quits. My boys both have nice, warm fur hats, but not me. My ear felt frozen, and I'm pretty sure the tip of my nose got frost bite, just in that short trip. When we got to the trail, we stopped to make sure Oren was still warm enough. He hopped off the snow-go right away, looking for his moose. "Moose? Moose?" so we determined he was warm enough.
The trail goes straight past Brett's trapline, which was just too much for him to resist. He jumped off when he realized one of his traps was missing and went searching through the brush without as much as a word to me. Oren went off down the trail in seach of his moose again, so I ambled along behind, coaxing him to turn around before we got too far from the snow-go. It took a few trips up and down the trail before Brett appeared again, with no animal in hand. At this point, I was a little irritated that our nice Sunday ride was getting side tracked, and was a little cold after about 45 minutes of sitting on the trail. I figured I could manage, but was a little concerned that we had Oren. Brett wasn't impressed that I was already ready to throw in the towel. We tracked the marten down a little river on the snow go before doubling back to the trail. We didn't travel very far before he spotted the marten trail again. I told him, "You might as well go get the thing." BIG mistake. Why would I say something so stupid? After a quick lesson on how to use the gun he brought along, he took off throught the trees and powder.
Oren was content walking up the trail looking for moose and caribou, at least for the first hour. Then he started to get a bit restless and began to ask about climbing trees. Now my feet are absolutely frozen, but we're walking and I know Oren's boots are good, so I'm not too worried, just a little annoyed. That annoyance escallated quickly. I realized we had no way to get in contact with Brett. I was expecting having to sit there for MAYBE 30 minutes. Not a chance. Even though Oren has been moving constantly, I was starting to get worried that he was getting cold. I could tell it was nearing his bedtime, as he was starting to get a little worked up when I had him turn around and walk back toward the snow-go. By the time we got back to the machine he fourth time, I was fuming that Brett was still no where to be found. Here I was with our 1 1/2 year old son in the middle of nowhere. How long was he going to leave us? I started the snow-go in hopes he might be able to hear it. Yeah, right. I even eyed up the gun. He'd have to hear if I shot that thing! I thought he might get too worried, so I tried yelling, "BRETT!!!!!!!" Oren even pitched in, "DAAAD!!!"
I was beyond worried at this point. What if he was hurt or lost? What should we do? We had been sitting (walking) on the trail for over an hour. Poor Oren was getting hungry, "Mama, snack?" he kept asking. "Honey, I don't have one. Your dad should be back soon. I don't know why he is taking so long." I repeated this over and over....and over, getting more and more mad and worried each time. I tried amaqing Oren (putting him in my jacket), but the jacket I had on was too small, so he sat on the snow-go seat trying to start the snow-go, "Home, snaaaack?" By this time Oren and I were both in tears. We resorted to yelling again, then heard "WHAT?!?!?!" with the swishing of ski-pants associated with running. "Well you don't have to run" I said half under my breath. By this point I was so happy to see him that I kind of forgot how mad I was. No words were exchanged. He just hopped on the snow-go and we headed home. The funniest part of the whole ordeal was that when we got home after he apologized for the millionth time, Brett said, "I just can't believe that you aren't more mad." HAHA! I said, "You DID NOT hear me when you were gone. By the time you got back I was just so happy you were alive I didn't even care!"
Moral of the story: Set guidelines before going into the country with a guy....or at least communicate expectations!
The Next Day
Easter Sunday
Oren found his life jacket and didn't take it off for almost a week. Here he is finding his Easter basket with his lifejacket on.
"Baby Beluga." ...Hanging out in his boat with his animals.
always the fisherman....
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