Chris

Last winter, Katie asked us if it would be all right if one of her friends joined us on the trip.  Sure, we thought, but does she know what she is getting into?  Eleven weeks with someone you don't really know?  But if she was game, it was fine with us.

We met Chris for the first time in Brigham City.  She was a smiling happy woman, friendly, and kind.  We breathed a sigh of relief - we liked her.

Since then, we have had some great adventures, and we have found out a few things about Chris.

1.  She has a great sense of humor.  Whether we are telling jokes, talking about funny incidents, or trying to figure out what she is saying (because of her accent), she is laughing.  You can't stay sad or upset for very long when Chris is around - she will have you laughing in no time.

2.  She has quite the Boston accent.  I can't tell whether she sees a beah or a beah (a beer or a bear), even when she tries to distinguish between them.  We have been to Alasker and Canader, but we have also been to Alaska and Canada.  It has been a hoot (one of her favorite expressions) trying to understand her.  For example, she might say, "It was a hoot watching that yoho try to find the beah."  You need to know what a yoho is - I would call a yoho an idiot - and then depending upon where you are, is it looking for a beer or a bear?

3.  She likes to play golf.  Although she only played three times, she brought her clubs, just in case.  Twice she went by herself and did not have any trouble finding a group to join. She even played miniature golf with Di.

I think she should convince her husband, Ed, to come to Canada and play some of these pretty courses. There is even a Carnoustie Golf Club up here.  Can't imagine what it is like, but they could play it and tell me!  Chris also likes to play cards.  We played a lot of Kings on the "Cahna" (corner), but she also plays cribbage, canasta, poker, and other card games.

4.  She likes people and she doesn't know a stranger.  Wherever we are, she strikes up a conversation with someone and soon they are best friends!  Once she brought her golfing buddies back to the RV; once she saw someone in the store that she had just met checking into the Jasper RV park, and I thought she had just seen a long-lost friend.

5.  She likes beer - but only Bud Light.  She was willing to try some of the beers at different breweries, but we always got the crossed eyes, rolled eyes look.  If Bud Light is not available, she will drink Coors Light . . . but that is it.

6.  She is a good cook.  And she loves "peppah."  She can mix up anything and make it taste good . . . and she makes really good spaghetti sauce!  I didn't know there was an art to cooking pasta, but I have learned.  It has been fun watching and listening to her.

7.  She is adventurous.  Anyone who is willing to try a trip like this with people she doesn't know must be.  But when she saw Don put "peppah" and salt on his cantaloupe, her adventurous spirit came to a halt.  She just couldn't imagine eating that!

But my favorite part of Chris is how grateful she is.  She never leaves our RV without thanking us for having her in.  She thanks us for everything . . . and not just us.  She is grateful to everyone she meets.  It is such a pleasure to be with someone who expresses appreciation and means it.


It has been fun getting to know Chris and having her join us on the trip.  It has been a great experience for us, and I hope it has been for her.