As we headed out of Boulder Eli kept asking, are we heading back to Minnesota yet or are we still going away? We were still heading out, this time over a pass (where the previous shots of the snowball fight were taken) and then down a dirt road to Jon's friend Darrin's cabin. Jon and Darrin met when they were studying in Germany back in 1991. We figure we haven't seen Darrin or his wife Steph for about 14 years and have really only kept in touch via Christmas cards. But that didn't seem to matter. About 16 seconds after we tumbled out of the car, Darrin's oldest, Sam, asked Eli and Theo if he and his little brother, Jake, could show them around. That's the last time we really talked to the guys over the next 48 hours. That's not true, we all hung out together, but it was clear from the start that this was a meeting of the minds in terms of the young ones. They shared a love of tramping through creeks, building chipmunk shelters, throwing rocks, drawing, and fashioning anything into a weapon. And I'd like to think that there was similar camaraderie with the adults. It was a joy to get to know Darrin and Steph better and to meet their fabulous boys.
We were able to stay out of the car for an entire day and just take walks in the woods, gaze at the surrounding peaks, chuck rocks into creeks, and even try panning for gold (we found a few of the smallest of flakes- nothing that was possible to keep). It was also at this cabin that Eli turned from 8 to 9. Darrin had made a cake and even transported some ice cream up to the electricity-free cabin. We sat around by candlelight and toasted Eli by everyone saying something they liked or appreciated about him. I liked that Jake called him a 'Buddy guy', not in reference to his friendship abilities (although Eli is so sweet to little guys) but because Eli had fallen for their dog and had spent much time petting old Buddy. Theo had been burning with anticipation for his turn to speak up about Eli and when if finally came he exclaimed, "I pass!" with a devilish grin. Later, he did come up with a compliment, but he thrilled at the chance to 'dis' his brother like that.
As we headed out of Boulder Eli kept asking, are we heading back to Minnesota yet or are we still going away? We were still heading out, this time over a pass (where the previous shots of the snowball fight were taken) and then down a dirt road to Jon's friend Darrin's cabin. Jon and Darrin met when they were studying in Germany back in 1991. We figure we haven't seen Darrin or his wife Steph for about 14 years and have really only kept in touch via Christmas cards. But that didn't seem to matter. About 16 seconds after we tumbled out of the car, Darrin's oldest, Sam, asked Eli and Theo if he and his little brother, Jake, could show them around. That's the last time we really talked to the guys over the next 48 hours. That's not true, we all hung out together, but it was clear from the start that this was a meeting of the minds in terms of the young ones. They shared a love of tramping through creeks, building chipmunk shelters, throwing rocks, drawing, and fashioning anything into a weapon. And I'd like to think that there was similar camaraderie with the adults. It was a joy to get to know Darrin and Steph better and to meet their fabulous boys.
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