Cross-country ski challenge

By -Gabe-
Reflecting back on the time I lived in Rhinebeck, and of a fellow I worked with who was REALLY into winter sports. Personally, I am not into Winter sports; I'm more a Holiday Inn kinda' guy, you know, hot shower, continental breakfast; that sort of thing.

Anyhow, one snowy December day while at work ( we worked for the Post Office at that time,) Dick, ( that was his name,) was going on and on about how he couldn't wait to get out in this weather and what great shape he was in because of winter sports! Well, I had heard enough; and I told him so. "I am in just as great a physical shape as you are and I'm willing to prove it".

Dick's Nordic face flashed a smile from ear-to-ear." Your kidding". was all he said.

"No, I'm not" I lied. "Pick a sport and we'll go head-to-head and see who is in the better shape, you or me"!

Now, before I go any further, let me tell you that Dick was in fact in incredible shape. He was like one of those Vikings you used to read about in school. He was hearty, lived off the fat of the land and could squash me like a grape. I new I could not compete with him,  but I wanted to see how far he would take this challenge. It didn't take long!

"Cross- Country skiing," he declared. "Meet me at my place at six in the morning and i'll have the course laid out for the both of us".

Here, I knew I was in serious trouble and so I laid out my own plan "B". I didn't dare back down. I couldn't because if I did I would never hear the end of it. I'd be laughed out of every post office between Tivoli and Tombstone, Arizona!

But I also knew if I accepted a cross-country ski challenge with  Paul Bunyon here, I'd be a dead postal clerk!

Well, we met, Dick showed me the trail, and we headed out, snow  crystals blowing in my face, the icy wind whipping past my ears. In only a few moments, Dick was well out of site. And it was then  that I performed  a quick turn on the skis and headed down the hill to where I KNEW my CAB would be waiting! Walt, that was my driver's name, had specific instructions on when and where to meet me. At the  bottom of the hill I tied my skis to the roof of the Taxi and headed to my destination.

Now Dick is a fine, healthy, well-fit sort of fellow, but he doesn't  have that streetwise savvy necessary to work yourself out of  situations like this. In other words, he's not the devilish type, like me.

There was no way I was going to win; more to the point, there was no  way I was going to freeze my 'butt' off trying to prove a point that I could never prove if I lived to be a thousand and one.

When Dick arrived at the Pioneer club several miles East of where we started, I was starting on my third Hot-Rum Toddy!

The way he looked at me when he came in the door all cold and covered with ice, you'd think he met Sasquatch along the way. He never quite figured out how I did it, but he knew I didn't do it  on skill and strength.

Dick did inquire, but not, however, with me; he just looked at me  periodically and shook his head. I never told him. I'm content with just sending him a card every year and wishing him a Merry Christmas!

Gosh, it was fun!