The toboggan and the boyscout salute.

Winter in Maine is a fun time for a kid. Mountains of snow abound and endless adventure awaits. As a boy of only 7 years, young George Keegan couldn't wait to join the mayhem on the streets in their little town of Van Buren. With fifteen (15) foot snow drifts encroaching on the streets, the children of Van Buren set to work building snow forts and the world's most dangerous toboggan run.

Beatrice keegan was busily cleaning the kitchen and chasing the her younger boys, Tommy and Danny, when George announced he was going out to play. "Be careful", she scolded, and began to inspect his wintry uniform. She buttoned up his coat and gave him a big warm hug and whispered in his ear "I love you". She quickly shooed him out the door and turned her attention back to Tommy and Danny.

The snow drift covered the front of the house and swirled onto the roof of their quaint Victorian home. The previous day, young George and his brother Danny had tunneled their way out the front door in an arduous journey to street. They searched perilously for the mail-box as if they were explorers with Admiral Perry hunting for the North Pole. This struggle became an annual pilgrimage for George, Danny and Tommy Keegan.

The toboggan run was nearly complete and young George Keegan volunteered to be the first test pilot. His mates pushed the sled as he started down main street and headed for the first curve. Only then did he realize the gravity of his situation. The children built an Olympic quality toboggan run and Keegan was just an aspiring amateur. He felt like the fastest human alive as he approached the first curve. Snowflakes flew past his head. Suddenly, time slowed and all sound seemed silenced as the daring young Lafayette Escadrille breached the first turn. Keegan's sled shot straight over the top of the snow bank. For the first time in his life he was truly airborne.

After what seemed like an eternity, young George found his sled rapidly approaching the snow and ice of another snow drift. He knew this was going to hurt. When he put his right arm out to brace for impact, he felt his thumb break, twice.

Stoically, Keegan pulled himself and the sled out of the snow drift just in time for the rest of the Escadrille to come cheering across the snow he'd just flown over. They hoisted him onto their shoulders and carried him back like a celebrate fighter ace.

One thing about young George Keegan was forever changed. From that day forward, he was never able to do a proper Boy Scout salute. A salute he demonstrated throughout his life whenever he told this story.


-GK3

[image credits:Flying Toboggan source]
[image credits: Snow Tunnel source]