Family Fluff and Fun - time well spent (February, 2005)
Too often life and all it's inherent activities occupy our minds and time. During the rush of the work week our minds are turned to the stresses of work and the daily necessities of life. From the day's inception to the evening setting we fill the day with events that are necessary but don't necessarily provide the fabric that makes life meaningful.
Time spent with family is seen as an unnecessary expense, both in terms of time and means. Because there is no immediate consequence for letting this priority slip, it oftentimes gets shoved to the back burner, only to sit and deteriorate while other front burner issues continue to boil.
This weekend we decided to pull the long overdue pan off the back burner and let loose with some family fun.
As our Friday's necessary events ended, the weekend's adventure began. We packed up the car, nestled the family pet inside with us and traveled a short 30 minutes to Salt Lake where we checked in to a less than desirable hotel. The choice was made because we had spent a month in the same chain years ago as we awaited the completion of our home so we had seven free nights. The chain is usually moderately upscale and comfortable, but most important, they accept pets! But since it was clean and easily accessible to our plans, we stayed.
After unpacking some of our belongings in the room, we reassembled in the car and traveled to downtown Salt Lake, The air was still brisk and a bit nippy as we wandered past the ice skaters at the Gallavan Center. The dim ambient light surrounding the rink created a peaceful calm as we meandered by and watched young children tightly gripping parents as they learned to balance on skates.
We continued on down the street next to the newly installed TRAX trains and sought out a place to eat in the renovated downtown area. Time dated architecture has been restored to maintain the essence of the past with the comfort and safety of modern society. We came across the oldest restaurant in Salt Lake, Lamb's Grille, and decided to give it a shot.
Upon entrance there was a long bar complete with wall length mirrors and drink flavorings, reminiscent of early soda fountain shops. We waited to be seated in a very busy family style restaurant.
Once seated we enjoyed the relaxing sounds of live piano while determining which of the menu items to enjoy. Slightly upscale in price, the menu provided a pleasant diversion from the usual family style choices, yet not so far out there that children's taste buds would balk.
Choice beef tips with stroganoff filled my stomach. Even though I was completely full, I dabbled in a rich chocolate, chocolate chip cake with my twelve year old. Sharing is half the fun of eating. Everyone commented that their slight diversion from “normal” food was enjoyable and we left content and returned back to the hotel.
The family enjoyed watching action movies on the television set as we don't normally have tv in our house and I kicked back and read up on learning techniques to enhance my job skills.
Being early risers, we tucked in the for the night around 10 pm. As expected, we awoke early and ventured over to the main lobby for our continental breakfast. What a disappointment. The scant cereal offering was housed in the employee break room with little choice for breakfast. We decided that although the stay was free, we would be eating out and drove up the hill to enjoy a full service breakfast at Village Inn. Once again - our stomach's were full, this time with pancakes, French toast, bacon, eggs, milk and juice. Then we decided it was time to gather our belongings from the hotel and embark upon the highlight of our weekend.
Living in the mountains, one would guess that everyone skis, snowboards and enjoys the outdoor adventure. My children all snowboard but it had been years since I actually got on a lift and skied. Finding that a bit pricey, we opted to go tubing. Being a bit over the hill in age, we opted for a tubing resort that didn't require that we manually climb hills and seek out the “best” hills.
Gorgoza Park provided just the sort of day we were seeking. Their tubes were great with handles to make for easy transportation and the bottoms for speed down the hill. To make the experience even easier, you simple place your tube on the ground, climb in and attach it to a rope tow which pulls you up the hill as you leisurely watch the landscape and enjoy the sun. This also allows one to climb ever higher and accelerates the speed at which you come down. Binding the tubes together makes for an even more adventurous ride and allows you to enjoy family company up and down the hill. Pushing, pulling, spinning and flying off jumps exhilarate one's heart. The feel of snow spraying in your face as small icicles form on wet eyebrows after just one trip down the hill is invigorating. It ends all too quickly only to start all over again.
Three hours of this fun was just the right amount. Thus, in mid-afternoon we took off from Alpine Sledding and drove farther up the canyon to Park City. The quaint town with décor of a well to do western town invited us to stay for a while and enjoy mountain high pizza. Nestled in the canyon with narrow streets and people busily moving about the streets make one feel as if they were in a modern day old west towne. Rather than fighting muddy streets or blowing dust, we got the fight the crowds and settle in location for lunch.
Soft white crusts with five different cheeses seemed to make everyone happy so we indulged and moved on. On the way out we had to stop at a favorite desert spot, caramel apples. You can peer in the window and watch the vat of special caramel or chocolate sauces being warmed for great apple dipping. Top it off with nuts of various types and sliced as the apple juices drip to provide easy eating. We all shared one apple with about two slices each. Just enough to tantalize the taste buds and cap off a fun weekend together.
Tired but refreshed we relaxed for the ride down the canyon. Due to the warmth of the season, high capped snowy mountains have melted just enough to allow water to tumble down the rocks, only to freeze and create crystal formations in the form of frozen waterfalls. Truly a winter treat.
Time well spent… Family ties strengthened as we get to know each other and learn to enjoy being together. As each of us come to enjoy the other's company we build relationships that will last beyond the here and now. Thus, when life and all it's detours seems to take us down paths we don't want to go… we can be pulled home to ones we love and trust to care for our needs and help us refocus on the things that matter most… one another.
