I had this dream about snowboarding last night (see the title?) and because my f*cking computer’s power source died last Monday at three am (during which time i was talking to Robisam {sorry robi, I totally didn’t ditch you on purpose, I’ll give my computer a good whack for you later but I can’t now considering I’m writing this in my room and not at my desk}) I am forced to write this on paper and will type up everything and put it into final format later (or now because chances are you’re reading the final format…confused yet?) Anyways, time now as I write this (on my bed with the pen and paper mind you…)?
10:04 EST on
Sunday June 18, 2006 (Father’s day though dad’s out racing soap box derby so I’m n0ot exactly busying myself with breakfast or something festive like that)
So, this dream, this dream simulates something drastic. Addicts, when pulled from their substance, suffer from withdrawal. I believe my not logging on to a computer (I haven’t really so much as checked my email) in the last week has led to signs of withdrawal. This dream is the absolute first time Snowboard.com has reached me on a subconscious level. Yes, I actually had a dream related to snowboard.com. Shotgun anyone? I probably deserve to be shot.
Anyways, I have decided to write out this dream in story format 1) because I am such a great writer (hahaha…funny…shotgun? really, take a shot, please) and 2) because it will read a lot better than the typical “and then he said, and she was like, and they went”, you know, regular explanatory phrases that are all too obnoxious. So before I start this scary tale there are a couple of things I actually do need to explain (though not in an obnoxious manner)
1) USAFE, USAREUR, NAVEUR, and every other United States Military organization in Europe (along with a couple British, though don’t ask me why the Brits are in on this, it is far beyond my comprehension) all have the ability to use any of the U.S. R&R facilities in Europe (or anywhere in the world for that matter). These are supposed to be resorts and vacations spots where families and couples can go to distress, bond or just be together (often used before and after deployments). The newest of these resorts in Europe is the Edelweiss Resort at AFRC Garmisch in Garmisch-Patreckhein, Germany, conveniently located in the middle of the Zugzpitze (sp?) Mountains. Story short, great skiing and boarding at decent rates. Glad we got that settled.
2) I don’t snowboard. Never have but plan on doing so sometime soon (yeah I know, but please, put the guns away, you had your chance to shoot me earlier, too bad you missed your window of opportunity)
3) Robin and Steve snowboard like mad, it’s practically their life, why the heck the dream works out the way it does, is far far far beyond me. Second both are in no ways associated with any of the organizations listed above so I really don’t know why they are in this dream, but it’s a dream, roll with it.
4) I am a liar. Remember where I said I wouldn’t explain stuff? Big lie, I will occasionally add commentary to hurry this already lengthy piece along.
Okay, now that most of what I think I need to day is said, let’s roll along with the story.
The Hausberg Lodge at the resort was abuzz with early morning activity, People from ages four to sixty two ran around in a frenzy. Mom looked at me with a smile./ This lodge didn’t hold the best memories for me, but the coffee had been relatively decent.
“Dad and I are gonna go find Kelly’s instructor and drop her off. Do you want us to come with you to find yours?” she asked wiping a stray strand of brunette hair out of my face and tucking it behind my ear.
“I’m fifteen, Mom,” I said pulling the hair back into place. “I think I can handle myself.”
“Okay,” mom smiled and shook her head. I could tell she was sort of having issues with this. My switch from skiing to snowboarding meant she would pretty much have no way of seeing me or keepi9ng in contact throughout the majority of out vacation. We had already planned that I would take a shuttle back to the resort vice waiting for them or having them wait for me to drive back together, and that we would meet at Zuggy’s for dinner at eight. Basically no contact for the next twelve hours, and in a foreign country (even on an American Installation) that could be a little intimidating.
“Bye, Mom,” I said giving her a kiss on the cheek. She waved good-bye and walked with my dad and sister, looking for Kelly’s group. Taking a glance around the crowded lodge I debated grabbing a cup of coffee. It would rather suck to miss my group as they dispersed because I was nursing my probably dangerous caffeine addiction. Looking around I didn’t even know where to begin. Instructor: Gardiner (no, not you jg), Activity: Snowboarding, Range: Ages 15-21. Rather large age range but if we were all on the same skill (commentary break! Steve and Robin could kick my ass at boarding even if they were riding broken snowboards…okay, dream I guess?)
You would think that this would be a rather easy group of people to spot. Bunch of rowdy teens making a spectacle of themselves, but no, no one in sight. I stepped forward ready to begin combing the tables of people, when I heard the phrase “What the fack Steve?”, and instantly I know who had said it.
Turning around I spotted who of all people sitting at the table? Robin and Steve, the two deeply engrossed in some snowboarding related conversation I had no hope of ever understanding.
“Robin? Steve?” I gasped, my jaw dropping a good six inches (because it’s a dream weird shi*t like this happens).
The two bewildered guys turned and looked at me, brows furrowed in confusion. Steve starred, scrutinizing me, trying to make the connection as to who the hell I was. Robin did the same, until finally it clicked.
“Holy shi*t!” He exclaimed jumping out of his chair, “Kara?”
“Oh my God!” I laughed running over and smiling. “What the hell are you two doing here?”
“Vacationing<” Steve answered now remembering me. “What else?”
The three of us laughed at the strange coincidence. None of us had ever expected to meet up in person, especially here and like this.
“So,” Robin said, shoving his hands deep into his coat pocket. “What are you up to?”
“Looking for my group,” I said, hurriedly pulling a small scrap of paper with my group info on I out. “Anyone know where Gardiner 15-21 is?”
The two exchanged mischievous smiles an in an instant I knew exactly where my group was. Gardiner stood up from the table, acknowledged me with a nod, and as a small group of four we all headed out to what the lodge liked to call “the big back yard”.
Don’t think the story is interesting yet? I agree, it sorta (okay really) sucks. But stick with it, the best is yet to come.
*Insert five days of amazing snowboarding and good times right here*
The sun was setting over the mountains as Robin, Steve, and I caught the last Gondola down from the top peaks. My feet were killing me and my body ached in every single muscle region I had. One week of boarding could do that to a person apparently. We walked across the large parking lot, throwing snowballs at each other and trying really hard not to inflict any harm upon our boards, a difficult task considering I have the coordination of Disney’s Goofy. After we had changed, turned in out rental gear, and had taken the shuttle back to the resort, we looked at each other.
“It’s Friday night. Anyone want to go into the city for dinner?” Steve asked.
“You mean beer?” I prompted knowing full well what was on the menu. German beer and bratwurst. Meal of Champions.
“Of course,” Robin laughed. “I’m in, Kara?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “Let me run up to my room and tell my parents.”
The three of us took the glass walled elevator up to the third floor and after winding through the labyrinth of halls, made it to the room my family and I shared.
“You two wait here,” I said sliding my key through the lock. “Last thing I need is for my parents to actually get a good look at you before we head out.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” robin asked offended, throwing his arms out.
“Your parents already met us anyways,” Steve pointed out. “We ran into them at the top of the mountain, yesterday at lunch.”
“Yes, but they also met you while you were wearing snowpants, jackets, beanies, and goggles. Not a lot to see there.”
“Good point,” the two nodded and stepped away from the door. (I just felt like sharing that it is now 11:03 EST, I have now been working on this story for over an hour and it’s sorta hot up here).
Three minutes later I re-emerged, parent’s skeptical permission and fifty euros in tow. The three of us headed out to the parking garage and drove out to into the city. Four hours later, the shops were closing and Steve, Robin, and myself were dangerously close to being kicked out of the bar we had made ourselves comfy in. Catching the bar-owners dirty glare the three of us pack up and high tail it back to the resort.
Not wanting to go to bed and knowing that we’d probably never see each other in person ever again, the three of us grabbed seats in three large plush couches by the crackling fire pin in the lobby, sitting back and shooting the breeze for a good couple of hours. Along with talking and sitting came a good amount of cheap German beer, brought to us by waiters from the resort restaurant who wander the lobby looking for business.
Reclining in the lush sofa, the warm fire keeping me from feeling the harsh effects of the Resort AC System and in completely awesome company, I felt my eyes begin to close as unconsciousness ensued. I was falling asleep on what could have possibly been the best family vacation ever.
That was, until I felt the violent shaking and hand of my frantic mother slap me across the face.
“Where have you been? What did you do? Why didn’t you come back to the room? We’ve been worried sick!” and other phrases of rage and panic were shouted at me as my mother hovered above what had been my sleeping form. I could make out my father standing next to Mom, face red and looking incredibly pissed off. But what really got my attention was how he was not glaring at me, but at the couches beside me. I sharply sat up and turned my head to see the waking forms of Steve and Robin, groggily opening their eyes and becoming aware of their surroundings.
“Mom, I can explain,” I said, my head throbbing and a crook in my neck from the awkward position I had slept in. No matter what I said, my mother kept frantically ranting, drawing attention from both the resort staff and fellow guests.
“Our plane leaves in three hours and we’ve been worried sick over hoe you didn’t come back last night. Do you hear me?”
“Mom I-”
“And now we find you here, passed out with these two-”
“Mom please-”
“Do you understand what trouble you could have caused-”
“Mom we just-”
“And to think, your father and I know we raised you better than-”
“You’re not going to let me talk are you-”
“Why when we get home-”
“I didn’t think so-”
“Mrs. Gabone,” Robin cut in, trying to calm my mother’s fury. I shot him a look with only one message behind it, “good luck”. “We just came back and decided to hang in the lobby for a while. We must’ve fallen asleep, that’s all.”
“Fallen asleep?” my mother gasped. She pointed at the five or six or possibly seven empty beer steins in front of us. “More like passed out!”
“Mom, I didn’t drink!” I gasped, shocked that my mother, who could never so much as get a sip of wine into me, would accuse me of getting wasted like this.
By now I had also noticed how the resort manager ad emerged from behind the front desk and was slowly approaching us, hesitant at best.
“Really! You three ought to have known better, and I am shocked that the resort would serve to underage-”
I then tried to explain how robin and Steve were Canadian, not American and therefore perfectly legal, but my mother would have none of that. The hotel manager drew steadily nearer and I could tell that he was dangerously close to calling the German Police and resort security on all of us.
“So if you weren’t drinking, what were you doing?” my mother shouted, her hands on her hips. “Oh God!”
“What?”
She quickly cupped her hands over her mouth, “You slept with these two!”
“What?” Robin, Steve and I gasped in unison. My father was near ready to have steam blow out of his ears. The three of us looked at one another in a frenzied panic.
“Mrs. Gabnone-” Robin tried.
“Mom you can’t think that-” I piped.
“Mrs. Gabone,” Steve said calmly and patiently. “Had Robin and I slept with your daughter last night, do you really think that we’d be here, right now, on the couches of the hotel lobby?”
My mother bit her lip and a look crossed her face as if to say “oh”. At this point the hotel manager saw fit to intervene.
“Mrs. Gabone,” he said, stepping forward. ‘My concierge and waiting staff confirm and reassure that your daughter and her friends fell asleep on the lobby’s sofas. Young Miss Gabone had nothing to do with the drinking and from the time the three walked in at about midnight she did not move from the seat she is in now.”
There was a calming tone in his voice and he said his words with great care.
“Kim,” my dad said reaching and putting his hand on my mother’s shoulder.
“We have video tape,” the manager pointed to an upper corner of the vaulted ceiling. “Perhaps you would like to watch?”
“No,” my mother shook her head, “that’s quite all right. Kara, it’s time to go pack.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I nodded and got up from seat. “Bye guys.”
“Later Kara,” the two waved as I headed towards the elevator, my parents close behind me. As the doors to the elevator slip open I caught sight of the manager scolding Steve and Robin for passing out in the hotel lobby, and the two of them frantically thanking him for saving their asses just backs there. Laughing, I stepped into the small compartment and watched the rest of the scene unfold through the glass walls.
The hustle and, bustle of Frankfurt Airport was enough to drive any sane person crazy. My mother and I waited in line as the thirty people before us patiently stood to go through one of the two metal detectors that seemed to be working that morning.
“So,” my mom said with a smile. “Did you have a nice trip?”
“Yeah,” I nodded with a grin. The shock of the morning had ebbed and I was pretty certain my parents had ebbed and I was pretty certain my parents believed everything Robin, Steve the hotel manager and I had told them. “I did.”
“Good-”
At that exact moment the pocket of my coat began to vibrate as my cell phone chimed the “Banana Phone” song. Taking out my mobile and looking at the number in confusion I pushed the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Security lines suck, don’t they?” Steve’s voice said on the other line. I had given my number to keep in contact to the two but hadn’t expected a call so soon.
“Tell me about it,” I laughed. “Where are you two?” I could hear Robin’s enraged ranting on the other end.
“Don’t look just now, but beyond the metal detectors outside the duty free shop. Robin just got caught trying to bring German beer on the flight in his carry-on.”
“That’s not illegal,” I said.
“No,” Steve laughed. “But the country-ban gluwine, brandy, and roll of cheese are.”
“Ha,” I giggled. “When’s your flight?”
“Half an hour, assuming Robin doesn’t get arrested by Interpol for attacking the drug-bust dog that tried to make off with his stuff.”
“He didn’t-”
“That German Shepherd didn’t stand a chance.”
“Oh God.”
“Your mom is giving you a dirty glare; I’ll let you go now.”
“Oh-” I said looking at my mother who was starring at me annoyed. “Right.”
“Fly safe.”
“You too,” I hung up the phone and shoved it back into my pocket.
“Who was that?” my mom asked raising an eyebrow.
“Oh,” I shook my head. “Steve and Robin, just wanted to see if we had gotten out all right.”
“Oh?” My mother raised her brow even more. “You gave them your cell phone number?”
“Yeah,” I shrugged. “Just in case we go separated on the mountain. You know, tragic avalanche rescue sort of deal,” I lied.
“I see…”
“Mhmm,” I smiled as the line moved forward ever so slightly.
“You know,” my mother said with the slight tone of accusation. “You got along with those two surprisingly well, especially considering the age and skill gap.”
“You think?” I asked trying to sound nonchalant.
“Yeah, It looked as if you three had known each other for years. Old friends who go way back sort of deal,” Mom eyed me suspiciously.
“Don’t be silly,” I tossed my head back in laughter while emptying the contents of my pants pockets into a small collection tray. “How the heck would I know two college guys from Canada?”
So, when I woke up you can tell I was incredibly amused by this series of eye movements most commonly referred to as a dream,. The image of my mother chewing out a hung over Steve and Robin will forever follow me and always bring a smile to my face. When two worlds collide, who knows what can happen. FYI- it’s 12:13.
