Bucks Writs - Summer 2018 - 33

This would have been bad enough if we were near civilization. But we were 10 miles from any spot where an
ambulance could reach. Sue had to endure the agony of
being dragged on a stretcher the whole way, inhaling gas
fumes and gagging on snow.
It wasn't until a week later that she was out of the woods,
figuratively as well as literally. The hip surgery had gone
well, the drugs were effective and she was recovering nicely.
Sue lives near Hershey. On all our ski trips, she supplies
Hershey kisses by the bag full. After her collision we moved
the party from Bozeman to Billings where the hospital
was located. Her husband used the left-over chocolate as
currency to bribe the staff.
Then we upped our game and decided to donate our
left-over case of beer to her heroic rescue party. Not
wanting to stroll into the hospital lobby with the bottles,
we discreetly asked a nurse if she could connect us
to our heroes so we could thank them and present
them with the beer
Her response? "What kind?"
was I left alone. Although I have not been back to Europe
since, there may be a surprise bench warrant waiting for
me at Orly Airport.

I flashed to the movie "Almost Famous" when groupie
Penny Lane was sold to the next band in town for $50 and
a case of beer and through tears, she asked, "What kind?"

Fast-forward to this winter. I was back on the slopes, this
time in Big Sky, Montana.

The next day, the nurse instructed us on where and when
to meet the snow patrol in the parking lot.

On a bright sunny Tuesday, we took a day off and drove
to West Yellowstone to rent snowmobiles and view
the Grand Tetons.

It felt like a drug deal. Our heroes were very gracious and
grateful for our parting gift.
Later that day, the nurse told me what they had said when
she asked if they wanted the beer. "What kind?"

It being a weekday, we had the miles of trails to ourselves.
After lunch, my sister Sue decided she wanted to drive, so
her husband climbed on the back.

My sister received far superior treatment after the news of
our gift passed through the hospital pipeline.

She was traveling only about 15 miles per hour when she
banked, heading off the trail.

It turned out Corona is solid currency in Montana. 

She tried to straighten out but she hit the gas instead of
the brake. It turns out you should never wear mittens while
operating motorcycle-like handle bars. Five-finger gloves
are needed for the fine motor skills needed to control
the snowmobile.
Sue found that out too late as the stuck throttle caused
the machine to accelerate off the trail and into a tree. Her
shoulder and hip both slammed into the tree trunk.

SUMMER 2018

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