Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Stealin' and Four-Wheelin'

I am not a risk taker.

And so, every year I turn down the opportunity to go four-wheeling in the woods surrounding my college roommate's central Pennsylvania cabin.  My husband usually goes out and I did go with him once.  I didn't dare drive.  I rode behind hugging him tight and clamoring through clenched teeth, "I don't like it.  I don't like it."

But this year, I was motivated to go again by jealousy and a beautiful day.  See, I completely trust my husband and while he is far from an experienced four-wheeler, I didn't hesitate to let him take our daughter out for a little ride. When they returned they excitedly showed me the view from the top of the hill behind the house and I knew I wanted to see it, too.

The view I just had to see for myself.
And so I went.  Camera strapped tight to my back and helmet strapped tight to my head, the hubs and I made our way through the trees that glowed golden in the fresh autumn air.  At the top, we stopped to take pictures and relax a bit, finally on vacation from our kids and our cares.  

City girl four-wheelin' in the country.
Enthused by reaching the summit and comfortable with our girls safe at the cabin with our friends, I actually asked for more.  We headed off back down the mountain and found a large corn field to explore.  After awhile we stopped again to get artsy fartsy with our camera because that's what you're supposed to do when you go four-wheeling, right?

Artsy fartsy feed corn.
And then, before I really even knew it, I plucked this and another ear of corn as a souvenir.  We don't grow much corn in Baltimore and I ignorantly believed taking two ears of feed corn was akin to picking two dandelions out of the cracks of someone's driveway.

It is not.

Within seconds of hopping back on the four-wheeler, a red sedan screeched off the road and approached us on the trail.

"Who are you?" the woman demanded as she emerged from her car.

"Uh, uh," my husband stammered, "We are friends of the..."

"Kellers!" I offered, remembering my friend's parent's name first.  I pointed back in what I thought was the general direction of the cabin.

"Eh heh." The woman grunted.  "I see.  I also see you have helped yourself to some corn.  Eh."

I clutched the ears, a bit buttered with guilt.

Chivalry is not dead and my husband came to my defense.  "Oh.  Well, we just thought they would be nice for decorating."

We did?

"Heh.  Fine."  Flashing us one more threatening hairy eyeball, she left.

It is unclear where she came from, but she certainly ended our fun.  And I am not sure whether she taught me to take even fewer risks or to take a few more.  But I do know that our door looks smashing this season.





Back over at Yeah Write where writers blog and bloggers really write.  Click on the button below to read the other awesome posts linked up this week.

22 comments:

  1. "...buttered with guilt..." that is a great line! Wow, that was a disconcerting moment there with the disgruntled woman of the corn. Your door decoration does look great and you got a good story from it too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha, disgruntled woman of the corn. I do think taking a few more "risks" would result in a few more stories to tell.

      Delete
  2. I am with you-- no risks, thank you. Not physical anyway. I love what you did with the corn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just always have the feeling that the one time I try it I will regret it. But not this time!

      Delete
  3. Corn stealer!!! This is a great story. Good for you for taking the risk to go four-wheeling. It sounds like lots of fun.

    Karen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Man, I AM a corn stealer! The four-wheeling was fun, but I will continue to let me husband do the driving.

      Delete
  4. wow, she was more intense than the ride... would definitely encourage me to do more riding... its less risky than dealing with people some times! Nice looking door!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Intense is a good word to describe her. Though I can't blame her, I guess. It was her property and her livelihood (I assume...she never said as much.)

      Delete
  5. I also like the "buttered with guilt" line ... still chuckling. Beautiful pictures. Definitely sounds like a day you'll always remember.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll give my camera the credit for the pics. Thanks!

      Delete
  6. I like how your husband came to your rescue...that's teamwork.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He totally did. I had no idea why I picked the corn and while I am prone to crafting it didn't cross my mind until he said it. And then I had to...

      Delete
  7. Whoa. You're a corn thief ;) I did not know that was an offense. But then, I don't live on a farm and I don't grow corn so who am I to question?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My background exactly. Plus it was feed corn, but, like you, who am I to judge?

      Delete
  8. oh i'm glad you went. i would have been just like you declining. and that woman put me into the wizard of oz. what a witch. haha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad I went too! It was beautiful and a fun little adventure for me and my husband. She was a bit mystical in her comings and goings. Witch-like, indeed!

      Delete
  9. I did all my risk taking in my younger years! love your door!

    ReplyDelete
  10. From Baltimore, huh? Well, I won't tell the authorities about your crime spree this time . . . just be sure you keep it in the Pennsylvania hills, though. ;)

    That door decoration makes it totally worth the theft!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm still a risk taker. Glad you tapped your toe on he other side. But stealing??? ;-)))

    ReplyDelete