Julie Bowman-Tuck’s Patrol, Cathe Neuberger-Smugglers’ Notch, SANTA, Rachel Tobler-Smugglers’ Notch
It was a casual late morning tour up The Cog rail line on Mount Washington. We made our way up we traveling in pairs, exchanging stories, talking about past adventures and how we ended up patrolling. There was a rotation of the pairings and who lead the charge, so we all got to talk to each other. After all there is so much to learn from one another.
We got up to the point where The Cog turns around in the winter, ate some snacks, and added some layers to continue up to Jacob’s Ladder. We chatted in a circle eating yummy chocolate treats and makeshift sandwich wraps. Santa came up to us with a bag over his shoulder. Jokingly one of us said “you got any goodies in there?” Santa responded with a very scientific monologue about how diamonds are formed, that they are made from coal. He told us that all his elves in his workshop make the diamonds and have college degrees.
It was silly. We laughed along with his story, took a picture, and started to prepare to continue the tour. Two of us hung back to adjust our packs and after entertaining some kids Santa returned and enthusiastically said “go ahead and reach in the bag!” We pulled out a piece of coal! As a matter of fact a squishy, foam, stress toy piece of coal. We thanked him and continued on our way.
We made it to Jacob’s Ladder and took celebratory photos at a lookout point. Santa waved to us from The Cog while we skied down. The adventure was then topped off with yummy ice cream and promises to do another adventure together in the future.
Meeting Santa was serendipitous, but in the spirit of the holiday season his overly scientific explanation of diamonds forming stuck in my mind. Coal and diamonds are both valuable just in different ways. Coal provides energy and power and diamonds provide memories, history, and pricelessness. This made me think about the diversity I see amongst my patrol and what I believe to cascade among many others. New folks joining patrols and bringing so much energy and vivacity to the patrol—they are the coal.
Sorry newbies, but as one myself please take it as a compliment. Folks that have been patrolling for more years than I’ve been alive, they are our diamonds, they teach us the history, bring us the memories, and offer priceless contributions to their patrol. We are lucky to have these diamonds. There seems to be a trend of coal turning into diamonds, perhaps this is because of the amazing people that make up our patrols, the wonderful programs that are offered to all, and the camaraderie and community.
This holiday season I am thankful for the diamonds and the coal, and the community I have found here. Cheers!
