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| The Double Yellow Line |
Theresa and I discussed taking our family on a ski vacation to Mammoth. We love Mammoth, but both the skiing and lodging can be expensive for a family of five. But more importantly, I really prefer not to drive on undivided freeways.
Something just does not seem right about other cars being driven by amateurs or worse approaching our family at a high rate of speed and we are only separated by a painted double yellow line on a dark, oily roadway.
Without getting into the grim physics related to vehicle accidents, I just decided to pass on that drive. I purposely dodged ever working Traffic Division on SDPD. I think traffic cops, motor officers and traffic investigators are amazing people, but I just never felt I had the right stuff. Too much math, polishing your motorcycle and dealing with a different type of mayhem compared to street gang violence. I put all those traffic thoughts to the side as we headed out to the beautiful State of Utah.
Life sure seems to be cheaper in Utah. Gas alone was around $3.50 per gallon. How is that possible? During our trip we met a San Diego family who commented, "it's like Costco around here, everything is bargain priced." They were right. In addition to reduced costs for lodging and lift tickets, the local people were really friendly and just seemed to run at a different pace, a little slower. It really was a nice change from San Diego.
You may think I am a bit paranoid, since I do not like to drive on freeways without dividers. I have another "glitch" I picked up over many years in law enforcement. I always want to know where each of our three sons, Troy, Raymond and Ryan are 24/7. To help satisfy this concern we purchased each of them their own I-Phone. Sorry parents, yes even our eight year old son Ryan.
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| Utah Gas Prices |
We want them to embrace technology early, but I also like the option of knowing exactly where they are. It still amazes me I can log in on my I-phone and in less than one minute know their location within about fifty feet. If they say they are going somewhere, we can always check on them. What did that great American President Ronald Reagan say, "Trust but verify."
The other beauty of the I-phone is if any one of them call for help, I will find them. They don't really need to know the address, who's party they are at or the name of the street they are on. Call for help and Theresa or I will be on our way.
Some people may call it big brother? Maybe. I really don't care. I think it is pretty darn cool. To quote one my fathers favorites expressions we all heard him say when we were growing up, " I don't give a rat's (Adam Sam Sam)." So yes in these days and times, I want the option that if our kids need our help, we can always find them.
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| Last Day at Brianhead, Utah |
I know Raymond our twelve year old was pleased to have his I-Phone with him in Utah. He was Instagraming, Texting and Snapshoting most of the trip.
As we were riding on the ski lift the second day of our trip the subject of his I-phone came up. Raymond quickly tapped both upper pockets of his black Nerf ski jacket and turned and looked at me. I knew right then that under his opaque ski goggles and ski mask was a child who had lost his I-phone. Not a good thing.
He knew it would impact his freedom as well as his allowance. We buy the first I-phone, the insurance payment to replace it if it is lost, they pick up.
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| View from our condo |
Raymond was perplexed for a just a moment and then realized he had options. Using my I-phone locating system and sending his phone a signal to set off an audible alert we began searching two of his previous crash locations. The snow continued to fall as our entire family gathered in a grove of trees digging around in the fresh powdery white snow. We finally heard the faint beeping sound from deep within the pristine white powder. Though Raymond's face and eyes were covered, I know that his big childish grin now extended ear to ear as his beautiful eyes twinkled.
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| Ryan |
As we dug through the snow the alert sound got louder and louder until a few minutes later and about two feet into the freezing snow we found his fully functional, but very cold I-Phone. It worked perfectly.
As Raymond slid that I-Phone back into his jacket pocket, I felt pretty good. Utah is a beautiful place and the most precious things I hold so close
to my heart all have a tiny bit of technology in their pockets that just might may help me find them one day. After all, without each of them, I would be the one truly lost.
Ray & Theresa Shay
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