Test of Character

1. "I've got enough frequent flyer miles for three 'free' airline tickets," Dan said during Christmas break. "What would you say if I took Isaac and Aaron skiing in the mountains over Spring Break?"

"More power to you – if you can get them on the plane," I replied thinking this would be a great father-son trip and an excellent Test of Character.

2. "I was wondering if I could take your camera with us to Montana to shoot a few photos on our trip?" Dan asked as he packed.

"That's like asking to take my right arm," I said. "I carry my camera with me everywhere."

"We'll be back Friday," he said,

"I'll have to think about it. Doesn't your cell phone have a camera?" I asked and immediately recognized my hesitation as a test of character. Saturday night, I downloaded my latest entries onto our computer, deleted images, charged the battery and handed over the camera saying , "There's space for 110 shots."

3. "My teacher was handing out 'free' ski lift tickets," Aaron said Friday at Spring Break's start. "I asked her for two so you and Noah could ski here while we're in Montana."

"Thanks, we'll use them Sunday afternoon," I replied marveling at my son's thoughtfulness yet wondering about my own gumption.

4. "I wanna ride the chair lift," Noah whined Sunday afternoon upon our arrival at the local ski hill.

"I need to warm up my 'old' body first," I said directing him to the tow rope so we could both find our legs on the slick spring snow.

5. After eight rounds on the bunny hill, Noah asked, "Are your old bones warmed up now?"

"Almost. Two more rounds and then we'll ride the chair lift," I said gathering courage for my first chair lift ride up these big hills.

6. Swaying in the chair lift high over the steep runs, Noah said, "I wanna go down (the) freestyle (hill)."

"I need someone to show me which runs are the easiest. Isaac usually does that. Will you lead me today?" I said truthfully but also attempting to rein in my youngster. Noah bartered,"Okay. I'll show you, but then can I go down freestyle?"

"Fine," I said. "Just not over any jumps and you must wait for me at the bottom so we can ride the lift together."

7. "Don't you wish you had your camera?" Noah asked when I told him to stop at the summit for a look over the valley of rolling forests, frozen lakes and melting snow." "Don’t remind me," I said. Noah insisted, "But don't you?"

"I'm imprinting it on my mind," I responded to this next test of character and creativity.

8. "Watch me, Mom!" Noah said as he skied off the trail, down a steep slope toward a treed gully, over a grassy patch and took a header soaking his knees in mud. After I regaining my breath, I hollered: "Are you okay? Why did you do that?" Noah said, "Isaac showed me that."

"Stay on the trails and use your noggin. Skis don't work on grass!" I said wondering whether I'd over-estimated Isaac's role-modeling.

9. "This is our last time, Mom," Noah said as we rode the chair lift for the seventh time.

"Is it?" I asked. Noah nodded pointing to his wet knees. I said, "Ah, you're cold. Well it's better to stop before we're all worn out."

10. "We'll have to thank Aaron for getting us these passes," I said. Noah replied, "I'd rather fight him. He likes that better."

So much for our family's Test of Character.