My protégé – Honorable Mike Miller – take heed.
Heavy snow still around despite slight warming trend last
couple of days. Master Po hobbling badly
from mishaps in snow and ice earlier in month.
As usual, this important later in story.
Mrs. Po leave for Richland to visit her mom, and her last words
to me are, “Don’t go in deep snow anywhere where you might get stuck.” I make usual promise in return that I won’t,
and tell her to be careful and to watch her speed as always.
As soon as she pull out, I load dog in Jeep, and go to check
on cabin along yellow creek. Like
honorable Mike Miller, I not listen well to wife when she tell me wise things
for my own good. I promptly get 4x4 Jeep
stuck in deep snow at bottom of hill trying to leave cabin area. At least 4,568 attempts later, in 2-w drive,
4-w drive, 4 – Low, and 4 – Lock, I am still sitting at bottom of hill.
Master Po surprised that engine and drive train and
transmission start to smoke after this many attempts, so he turn engine off,
and step outside of Jeep to allow moving parts (friction wear, no doubt) to
cool down. He wise like this. He not
want to damage any auto or rickshaw if he can help it. Passerby in car stop and ask Master Po if he
need assistance, and I yell back to friendly Samaritan, “No, I’m just checking
on things down here.” He leave with
puzzled look on his face cause there are no footprints in snow indicating that
anyone walked around cabin property – Remember, Master Po not able to walk in
deep snow because of other mishaps.
After many more attempts Master Po now notice tread on new tires
also is smoking. Master Po never realize
(despite having science background) that rubber tires can burn even on cold snow
and ice. Smoke and steam (aka water
vapor) now start to form cloud around Jeep, so Master Po wisely shut off engine
to allow to cool again.
Second Samaritan in white pickup truck stop and ask if I
need help. But, Master Po not only
stubborn, but too embarrassed in situation to tell man truth, so I tell man, “No
thanks,” and continue to try again
another 4,128 attempts at hill.
After many more attempts and engine cool-downs, Master Po
tell himself that he will accept next offer, cause I not want to spend whole
weekend at cabin with no food. As fate would have it, no new offers to help
come my way.
Finally from divine intervention in heavens, Jeep break
through and we reach summit. Dog, Coco
look at her Master and just gaze with her eyes.
Master Po hope she not have concussion from jarring around in Jeep. I think she just wondering how she ended up
with me as her master.
When we get home, she jump out of Jeep much quicker and more
easily than Mater Po for sure. Dog okay –
not sure about Jeep, or about Master Po though and when Mrs. Po hear story, he
may feel even worse.