The American Heritage Dictionary defines “slippery slope” as a tricky precarious situation, especially one that leads gradually but inexorably to disaster. I’ve heard slippery slope used to define a person’s downfall, once a bad choice has been made.
In January, the slippery slope concept became crystal clear to my husband Barry and granddaughter Bailey. Bailey is our one and only granddaughter and she lives in Bozeman, Montana with her little brother Brady and parents. We went up to Big Sky, MT to celebrate Bailey’s 7th birthday.
One morning we woke to a crisp clear sunshiny 38 BELOW ZERO temperature. Our daughter Jodi and her husband Rob were working, so we were in charge of the kids. Barry, otherwise known as Papa Cowboy to the kids, decided to take Bailey sledding while Gammie (me) and Brady stayed in by the fire. Bailey is always game for an adventure with grandpa.
So off they went, bundled up in their snow clothes, caps, gloves, boots, and dragging a two-person blow-up tube. Brady and I watched them from the window with binoculars as they climbed the windy road up the hill where we usually sled. They went higher and higher until they were clear over the top and out of sight. Hmmm! It’s a great hill. The higher you go, the longer, faster ride you get. But they were gone.
An hour and a half passed by and we finally spotted them walking up the street toward home, dragging the slider. They looked a little sheepish, as we threw open the door to welcome them back into the warm chalet.
The story went. . . As Papa Cowboy and Bailey climbed the hill, they challenged themselves to go higher and higher, until they reached the top. When they got to the top, they decided to take a little hike and discovered a bigger hill they had never sledded.
This hill was astounding! There were signs that showed only one other sledder had tried it. It was a struggle to get to the top, it was so steep. Papa Cowboy was thinking it might be dangerous, but Bailey was excited to give it a whirl. So they jumped on the double slider and the term slippery slope paled in comparison to what they experienced. Away they went with such speed, snow flakes flew up and stuck to their faces. Faster and faster they sped, bouncing over a log, and going airborne.
There was a reason why only one other person had been on this hill. Perhaps he was dead at the bottom. Papa thought he could slow the sled by digging in his heels, but they were flying so fast, he didn’t dare. At the bottom was a dip, where he thought they would come to a stop, but they hit the dip and went airborne again, shooting right out across the road. Bailey flew out and Papa Cowboy sledded over her.
When they told the story, I was thankful to see them alive. “Bailey, did you cry when Papa Cowboy ran over you?”
“No, we were laughing so hard I couldn’t cry.”
Some of life’s challenges are risky. So would they wish they hadn’t taken the ride? Not at all. Bailey and Papa Cowboy will spend a lifetime of laughs telling the story of their flying ride down the slippery slope and it will probably get bigger and better every year.
Sometimes taking a risk can have some bumps and even leave some scrapes and bruises, but the fun you have along the way is worth it.
Memories are made of having fun with your family and friends. You’ll never sit around a fire at night and reminisce about the hard day you had at work or the daily household routines. Get out and have some fun, so you’ll have some great stories to tell later. If you don’t know how to build fun into your life, contact a coach or go to my website .
