The County

My Wife loves warm sun and sandy beaches. Maine, in February, does not have these things. So what do we do? Go snowmobiling.

My Wife absolutely amazed me when, during a dinner out with the principal of my school, she became excited about the possibility of going to northern Maine and snowmobiling during our February break. I kept glancing at her, trying to let her know she didn't need to fake excitement about it just because my boss was suggesting it.

We did it. Drove hundreds of miles, wrapped ourselves up in layer upon layer of clothes, and scrunched onto a one-person sled together for two days. We hung out with people twenty-five years older than we are and slept on a bed that must have been comfortable about fifty years ago.

I can't say My Wife had a great time. The drive was long, the weather was--surprise!--cold, our accommodations were rather rustic, and the food choices were limited. (Full disclosure: we drank Budweiser, so the situation was clearly desperate.) Plus, snowmobiles are noisy and smelly, which doesn't endear them to her.

Still, the point was to experience something (and someplace) new. An adventurer at heart, My Wife embraced the trip as a unique experience, one more step in learning about this strange and exotic place called Maine. She welcomes these experiences with a smile. It's a smile I find beautiful.