Letter from the Mint editor: Took a risk and broke my wrist

Mint editor struggling to type this subhead due to useless thumb

GABRIELLA RAMOS, Evergreen mint editor

Well, I have some bad news for you all: I broke my wrist.

Typing this letter is one of the most time-consuming things I’ve done all week, as I am currently bearing a stupid splint that doubles the size of my thumb and diminishes all of my control over that appendage.

I am actually faster at typing with just my right hand than trying to type with both and having to constantly correct the havoc that my splinted thumb is reeking on my life.

So how could this happen to someone whose daily physical activity involves walking to the coffee pot and back?

Well, I tested my limits and left my comfort zone. My boyfriend Tanner and I went snowmobiling with his co-workers this weekend. Let me start by saying that neither of us had ever driven a snowmobile, but we’re adventurous people, right? Well, yeah, maybe too adventurous.

We borrowed his boss’s extra snowmobile and had to ride double, but we were having a great time. Yeah, it was cold, and I was certainly questioning my trust in my driver, but it was a thrill I haven’t experienced before.

But it wasn’t a good snow day. As in all of the snow was compacted underneath us and we were riding on mostly ice. It should have been a red flag when Tanner’s boss’ wife, who has gone snowmobiling hundreds of times, couldn’t stop and ran into another snowmobile at one of our stops. But still, we continued.

Slowly but surely we were making our way to the top. We had to stop every five minutes to make sure the snowmobiles weren’t overheating. This is another side effect of the compacted snow. There was no snow hitting the sleds to cool them down, so we would stop to cool them down by throwing snow on them manually.

On our fifth stop, we got off near the edge of a cliff. I jokingly said to Tanner before we got back on, “I’m afraid you’re going to take me off the edge.”

Well, that’s exactly what happened, except it wasn’t his fault. I was riding in the front and was leaning pretty far forward. As he turned the handlebars to get going again, the throttle hit my shoulder, and straight over the cliff we went.

Because Tanner was on the back, he was able to jump off without any injury. It happened pretty fast and I’m not really sure of the series of events. I just know my helmet flew off, and I landed on my wrist first and my face second.

I’m pretty sure the snowmobile took more damage than I did, but nonetheless, I did not walk away unscathed.

I’ve never broken a bone before, so I’m still getting used to not being able to brush my hair by myself. But Tanner’s cool, so he’ll take care of it.

I’m not going to say I wish I never went because that’s simply not true. I was having a really great time, and I will certainly be willing to ride alone next time when I’m all healed up.

Thanks for having me, Mark and Rachel, and sorry about your snowmobile.