One year, when my brother Billy and I were single and in our 20s
We decided, along with our parents to spend the Christmas Holidays
With the youngest member of our family, my brother Bobby
who lived and worked as a ski instructor in Aspen, Colorado

I was the oldest of the three Durkin children
all a year and half apart in age

My parents were quite at home on the golf course
Yet, the mountains, on the other hand,
were completely out of their comfort zone

blue jeans, their very first pair, were purchased in preparation for the trip
along with matching down vests
plus boots
and
in order to complete their new fashion statement
to top off their ensemble
They bought his and hers cowboy hats

Mother in her stylish way, tilted hers… ever so slightly,
Yeah, she was ‘workin it’ alright!
Oh Yes she was!

The two of them were very pleased with their new image
as they modeled their dandy duds
before boarding the plane headed out west


It was a complete and total new look for Rosemary and Bill
my brother Bill and I were named after them,

And that’s why I occasionally refer to myself
as Rosemary’s baby
I digress


Roy Rogers and Dale Evens were truly a sight for sore eyes
fish out of water would be an understatement!

The harrowing ride through the mountains
while driving from the Denver Airport to Aspen is one I will never forget
for as long as I live.

and may I add
after that experience,
I am lucky to be alive

We will not even go there right now,
or I might have a panic attack!
That’s another story

After finally arriving
(by the grace of God)
in Bobby’s snow covered Hood
on our very first day

we immediately headed to the slopes

to watch our baby brother perform
just a short ski lift away
in a fabulous show


while walking over to the chair lift
Billy and I noticed
Big Rose and Bill acting a bit hesitant
after hearing the details

My I digress again right here?

I’m sure glad that I was always referred to as
little rose

If I had been stuck with Big Rose as my handle
I think that might have been rather hard to handle!

and
As far as Big Bill and little Bill are concerned
My parents have always called my brother s
Billy and Bobby

even though Billy is all grown up ,
at least we dont have to call him little Bill
that’s another story

My dad, always the gentleman
Volunteered to stay back with my mom

The poor women was genuinely afraid of heights
and
was not too thrilled about making the trek up the mountain

Billy and I convinced her that Bobby
would have been extremely disappointed
 knowing
that we traveled all that way

And then failed to watch his extremely entertaining show

Consequently,
They courageously decided to do what they had to do
to make their kids happy

Which was
being in the audience watching a member of our family 
perform for the masses

Unbeknown to Bill and I
who were ahead of them in line

and as we would soon discover
my parents actually thought the ski lift would stop to let them on and off

Right before their turn my dad asked the 40 something harried lift operator
To please stop the contraption so he and his wife would be able to board

Dad went on to inform him they were only going up the mountain to watch their son
Who was a trick skier and by the way,
any chance,
did he know him?

Suddenly
without warning,
right in the middle of their conversation

With stunned, deer in the headlight expressions on their terrified faces

my parents found themselves helplessly swept away

like it or not,
loaded on the lift
like a double scoop of ice cream

We heard my dad say, “My God someone could get killed up here!”
“Whatever you do, don’t look down!” he warned his petrified wife
while he was desperately trying to locate the seat belts

Bill and I were looking back at them laughing so hard,
it’s a wonder my brother and I didn’t fall out
we could barley communicate
as we tried to explain that they were going to have to jump
when we arrived at our destination.

“The lift is not going to stop to let you off!” we warned!

Neither of us were too worried about my dad,
he had always been such a jock and was still in great shape

We also knew he would do whatever he could to protect our mom

yet

Poor big Rose, had never, in her lifetime

Participated in any sport whatsoever

other than golf

She told us it was because she didn’t like to sweat
That’s another story

Hopping off the lift that afternoon
was the closet she ever came to doing anything remotely athletic

However,
This courageous women was highly motivated
and ready to accomplish whatever death defying feat she had to endure

In order to watch her youngest at his best

Well, I’m very happy to report
Bobby did not disappoint us

He did double flips on one ski
forward and backward

Dazzled everyone with graceful ballet like moves on the snow

And for the big finish, did a few flips into a pool of water

He was quite the accomplished skier and star of the show

Bobby taught all sorts of famous people how to maneuver down the mountain
Another story

The following day,
his skills were going to be put to the ultimate test
our
baby brother
was going to attempt to teach his 2 older siblings

who had never been on skis before

how to master the art of downhill skiing

Or at least make it down the mountain
in one piece

And that’s another story