MOM!

I leaned over the cliff and quickly retreat my eyes to look down at the grassy valley. This mountain at dusk is pure danger. The rocks were scraping at my legs as if they were scorpions. The chilling air hit me like a gigantic block of ice and gave me the goose bumps. I put on my warm ice climbing “ninja fleece” and for a minute I pretended like I was little again and my mom was tucking me in my warm bed.

I flash back to the mountain; Cody is teary eyed and crying to mom not to do it…..she promised him she would be right back. I saw her pink bandanna disappear behind the cliff. Dad and I were trying to calm Cody down and reminded him that mom is a very experienced rock climber and she would not go down anything she couldn’t handle. We were anxiously waiting for mom’s voice to yell CLEAR! Another few minutes went by, but it felt like hours. I had butterflies in my stomach, my legs and arms went weak and numb, and my heart sounded like a machine gun. I yelled “MOM!” But there was no answer…….”MOM!” Again, no response. My heart sank. Suddenly I heard Cody yell “LOOK!” I looked over the cliff and saw a little pink bandanna pop out from behind the rock, “CLEAR!”

Check out the video my dad made of the whole backpacking trip (sadly none of the cliff is in it, but it is still awesome) http://youtu.be/tOLPRicRp_o

Leap of Faith

With harness secured, I climbed the cold metal bars jammed into the towering tree. I reached the platform, clambered on, glanced down, then regretted it.

I wished I had claws to grip the tree trunk tighter. Tim the counselor called up from the earth far below, "When you are ready..." (like I am EVER going to be ready) "...take two steps to the edge of the platform, and we will count to three. And then you're gonna jump."

I took many, many deep breaths. After a few million years, my feet took four tiny agonizing steps toward the edge of the platform. Then Tim started counting way too fast, "OneTwoThree!" I concluded, "Well, I guess I have to jump, don't I?"

I tilted forward slightly, bent down, leaned out a little bit more, and sprung with all my strength off the platform. The distant trapeze bar came closer and closer. The next moment, I was clutching the bar securely with sweaty hands. The only words that came to my mind were, "I'm glad I made it."

Jacob

Untersberg

The fog hung dauntingly below me.

I swallowed and my stomach tensed, released, and tensed again. I felt like I was about to throw up.

I tried not to look down but I did.

The rock cliff, white and torn, plummeted into the fog and down a thousand feet to the ground.

My trembling left hand squeezed the cold cable even harder.

Frances whimpered behind me.

My mom’s shaky voice started to sing, “Just put one foot in front of the other.”

My dad walked slowly, leading us past the shrines carved into the rock protecting the quivering candles and the memories of all the people who have fallen to their deaths.

The path on which we walked was narrow and slippery. It led us up, up, up the Untersberg. 

Halfway up I crouched in a small cave and asked myself why I decided to do this.  We could have retraced our steps down ladders, over creeks, and through patches of forest. Back down to the city of Salzburg. But my dad had said that would be even more dangerous.

I stood up and decided there was no going back now.

But time was like a mourner, passing slowly by the shrines and by us.  

Each step lasted forever.

Then, at last, my eyes saw flat. Then, a few scattered trees. Then grass! Then I stepped onto real, solid, flat ground!!!  

My mom sighed and giggled with relief. Frances sat down on the grass. My dad was just so happy that no one fell. I was so glad to see that everybody else was so happy but no matter what, I could not stop shaking.

The four of us walked over to a little hut and I ordered the second latte I have ever had--and it was fully caffeinated.

Eleanore 

Mangos Turn Into Bombs?

A few years ago my family and

 I were in  El Salvador.

It's a really cool place up a river in the mangroves called Bahia de Jiquilisco.  

There were crocodiles and bull sharks in the river! 

 

One day we went on a long and hot walk trough the jungle.  Passing a vast field of sugarcane we then stopped at a huge pond that our guide said there were fresh water prawns in.  As we walked through the jungle, about 30 minutes after we past the pond, we saw an ocelot cub run in front of us.  I was so surprised I jumped.

Shortly after, we arrived at a shack.  All we saw were about a dozen of small cages with some timid monkeys in them.  We were all thinking "this is what we walked through a mosquito infested jungle for."  Then one of the older men got up and said "did you come to see the monkeys"?  We said "aren't these the monkeys?"  "No," he said "these are only the sick ones, follow me."  So we followed him, then he gave us all a banana and called "Poncho, Maria"!  When he called those names the trees exploded with shaking.  One tree almost touched the ground!    Then a mango sailed past our heads, then another and another.  Mangos were raining from the trees.  The monkeys weren't actually throwing the mangos at us.  But it sure did look like it!  There were hitting the ground hard.

Then we saw them.  First it was only 3, then 10, then 20.  

After 5 minutes there must of been a hundred monkeys! 

 There were so many crazy monkeys jumping around.  I saw one jump from the tip of a branch and land hanging by its tail!  It was so cool, the monkeys 

were coming down and grabbing the bananas out of our hands.

Some would even put there hand on your wrist for balance.  When they eat the bananas they actually peel back the skin like we do.  I love going there, it is always fun.

Cody

....the above monkey is Maria with a 3 week old baby.

And we meet again...

Comment of the Day: 

"I don't need easy."

Cody Nern

It's so fun to meet! 

We missed Jacob this week, though!

We reviewed each fantasy piece...

and offered some constructive criticism. 

Then it was time to read the last section of "The Promise."

Wow. So much foreshadowing and intensity and sadness and promises; we talked about what it means to parents to keep promises. How important it is to adults to be good and right in front of their children.  

Here's what YOU all said: 

That was RAW.

It's not how it should have been.

Steinbeck's not a happy person here.

We're lucky--we don't have to deal with life and death like this.

Now I don't want a horse at all.

Billy Buck is keeping his promise, 

but there are consequences to that promise.

After taking a river break, we talked about possibilities for this week's writing. I threw out the idea of fear...a scary time.

Logan didn't have a scary time, but we brainstormed about dramatic moments, moments with intensity. He found one.

Ellie told us about when her dog got lost 

and went right into her own writing...

Eleanore remembered (well) the Untersberg in Austria. 

We talked about where you start a piece--you can start in the middle of the "moment" or at the end and go back, or you can start from the beginning.

 Cody remembered lightning balls and waves and metal shoulders. In the middle of writing he remembered monkeys, so he'll decide later which he'll pick!

Our challenge to ourselves:

Write.

Re-write and SWEAT over a few spots (find JUST the right word).

Take out 20 words.

Spell all words correctly for the post. 

No reading for the week. Just really good writing!

Remember: WE DON'T NEED EASY! 

Fantasy

Alone on the slowly moving chairlift, the wind somehow maneuvered its way through his thick earmuffs into his ears. The snow fell lightly onto his jacket...

His odd ringtone sounded in his ski jacket. Expecting his mom's phone number on caller ID, he was astounded to see "Smith". They asked him politely if he would like to be sponsored by them. In a shaky voice he agreed, and after he hung up, he got a second call from Powder Mag, asking him to be on the front cover of their Smith edition.

He got off the now ice-covered chairlift and skated over to Red Dog Ridge...

Suddenly, he was being Go-Pro'ed by a pro. After dozens of small tricks off wind lips, his skis skidded to a stop in front of the lodge. Entering the cozy atmosphere of the lodge, he spotted himself on the front cover of a magazine waiting for him on a chair.

He dropped into the fluffy powder of Red Dog Ridge....

The next day, he received two more calls asking him if he would like to be sponsored. He was now sponsored by Smith, Moment, and Volcom.

HE WAS CONTENT.

A DOGS FANTASY

I sat waiting, waiting for the door to open! My body's shaking with excitement, my tail is wagging violently.

I love my people very much but... I really, really, have to go to the ...AAAAAHHHHHH at last....FREEDOM!! OK, OK all better.

As we walk back I see a bird fly by, and have the sudden impulse to tear it out of the air. Next thing I know I'm trotting my tremendous catch over to my people, They look at me with proud grins on their faces, and they drop to their knees and hug me all the while saying "you're the best bird catching dog in the world!!!!

And then the neighbors come out to see the commotion, the minute they spot the enormous bird, they look at me and their jaws drop. Their people come to retrieve them and stop dead in their tracks...and stare in awww and a type of jealousy.

For now I am the best bird catching dog around, and everybody thought twice before looking me in the eyes. I am admired and respected!

And then I here my people call and I am back on my walk.

ELMO