Do y'all remember back in the summer when I wrote THIS POST all about how Jude took part in the USA Luge Team's Slider Search? Well if you don't, you're gonna want to go read it or you're not going to understand what I'm about to say, and I'm too tired to rewrite all the details.
So really, go read it now.
Are you back? Did you really go read it? Sigh...
Okay, so...
A couple of months ago, we got this email...
Congratulations! On behalf of USA Luge, I would like to extend an invitation to you to participate
in a luge screening camp this coming winter. Screening camps are the next step in the
USA Luge athlete identification program and are designed to give participants a “total immersion” experience into the sport by “sliding” on the real luge run on ice.
That's right! He made the cut!
So today we were off!
LA to Salt Lake City...
...where I rented the sturdiest vehicle I could, this massive four-wheel drive Chevy Tahoe. We climbed up into the thing and Jude found what he thought for sure was a hairbrush...
The California Kid had never seen a snow scraper brush before!
So we fired up the GPS and headed out into...
That's right, a snowstorm. Texas/Los Angeles Mama here driving in a snowstorm. I was such a ninny. Jude kept saying "Go faster, Mom!" but I stubbornly crept along. I'm SO glad that I upgraded to the massive vehicle. At one point I realized that I could possibly relax a little when locals in their Toyota Tercels and such were whizzing past us, but I swear to God, by the time we finally got to the hotel, my hands were slightly numb from gripping the steering wheel. I'm such an old woman.
We did, however, arrive safely at the hotel...
Tonight we had a meeting at the Utah Olympic Park with the West Coast USA Luge coach and the other participants - 12 kids, all from California. The park is about a 5 mile drive from our hotel, much of it a bit off the beaten track. As we were heading up there IN THE DARK...IN A SNOWSTORM...our big vehicle kept sliding around all over the place until I finally stopped and figured out...I wasn't in 4-wheel drive. Duh! After switching it into 4-wheel we were in good shape. But still, after finally getting back to the hotel, we headed straight to the restaurant and Mama tossed back two glasses of wine.
Tomorrow will be much better - the snow is stopping and the sun will be out. And Jude will be ON THE ICE! He's very excited. Wish us both luck. I'll check in in a couple of days!
I am SO excited for you guys. Go, Jude, go! FLY down that track!
Posted by: Aimee | 01/12/2015 at 08:54 PM
Julianna and Isabella are chanting, "Go, Jude, Go!" Surely, he heard them from here, 'cause they are LOUD!!. PS, from me, "Go, Jude, Go!" and "Stay Calm, Gretchen, Stay Calm!"
Posted by: Lynn | 01/12/2015 at 10:06 PM
I read the original post so kept reading. Congratulations for making the cut Jude. Congratulations Mom for staying out of the ditch ... so far so good. From one Texas gal to another, you can do the snow driving by doing exactly as you did. Slow take offs and slow stops. No sudden anything. Take it from one who had a few slips a few times in Missouri snow!
Posted by: Janice | 01/12/2015 at 11:20 PM
amazing achievement by Jude and even better by you for not driving into a ditch. Good luck to both of you (and so exciting to get blog posts from you again)
Posted by: amanda | 01/13/2015 at 04:24 AM
Exciting and totally understandable about driving in the snow. Hope all goes well for Jude!
Posted by: VandyJ | 01/13/2015 at 07:53 AM
How cool! What an amazing opportunity for Jude, and how cool that you're supportive! Go, Jude!
And yes, I did go back and read the original post. I missed the first time as I must've been off doing my "Eat, Pray, Love" thing when you posted.
Posted by: A.J. Cattapan | 01/13/2015 at 03:15 PM
What an adventure you two are having! I'm so glad you got the 4-wheel drive. I hate driving in the snow! I've been enjoying the luge videos on FB. :)
Posted by: Ginny Marie | 01/13/2015 at 05:50 PM
Good Lord, woman! I don't know what's more harrowing -- driving in that kind of weather or anticipating Jude on the luge at the Olympics! In all seriousness, this sounds so exciting, and I can't wait to hear about it. Also, you look AMAZING.
Posted by: Elizabeth Aquino | 01/13/2015 at 10:56 PM