-Just like you-
I am not a writer. In fact, this is the first time I've written anything since
college. I am, however, a snowmobiler.
My friends and I are probably just like you. We are all in our late twenties to
early thirties, and single white males. We have pretty good jobs; some own their
house, others rent. We hunt and fish, watch football and NASCAR, go to bars and
church festivals. We have problems with women, like fast cars and Schwarzenegger
movies. We think we can dance, but look like Frankenstein having a seizure when
a girl drags us onto the floor. We could probably switch places with any of you
and fit right into your group.
We have owned sleds from all manufacturers over the years. Our first sleds were
junk piles and we still make fun of them. We work on our own sleds and help each
other with theirs. We watch the weather forecasts waiting for snow and read all
the snowmobiling magazines drooling over the new sleds. We put 600 miles on the
truck to put 200 on the sled. We have all entered corners too fast, and all
missed turns at night at one time or another. We laughed at slow riders that
putted along at 15 mph. We rode with the feeling of invincibility that only
youth can bring.
Our youth ended February 14, 2003.
In a small town about 10 miles south of Crandon, Wisconsin at 11:00 PM my friend Jim Smolen lost his life. He was only 28. He died within a half mile of the cabin,
within half an hour of unloading the sleds off of the trailer. The
reconstruction showed that he hit a stump under the snow, was thrown off, and
hit a tree. At least he didn't suffer. Excessive speed was believed to have been
involved, even though the sled wasn't wrecked. It looked like he just stepped
off of it. He did have ONE or TWO beers, but I must say that I have seen people
drink much more - I'm not condoning it, but I know you have too. Jim was riding
as long as I can remember, 5+ years at least, riding the same sled he had for
three years. We have all seen the arcticles in the papers that give little
detail; letting us assume it was an inexperienced rider, totally drunk, on a
brand new, huge displacement sled.
What the newspaper arcticles do not show is how it affects everyone else. They
don't show the indescribable horror of seeing a close friend lying in the snow
bleeding from the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. They don't show the blank stare in
his unblinking eyes as you try to remember the CPR you learned in high school.
They don't show the panic felt during the longest half mile you will ever ride
back to the cabin to call 911. They don't show the feeling of helplessness as
you spend the longest HALF HOUR of your life waiting for an ambulance. They
don't tell about men who haven't prayed in years dropping to their knees and
saying a prayer. They don't show the feeling of uneasiness as you drive HIS
truck to the hospital. They don't show the cold you feel as you wait until
4:30AM when the doctors give you the news you already knew but still can't bring
yourself to hear. They don't tell the flood of emotions you feel as you have to
call your friend's parents in the middle of the night to tell them that their
son has died. They don't mention that none of his friends will get any sleep for
days. They don't mention the nightmares when they do. They don't tell about the
DNR (Department of Natural Resources) showing up at 8:00AM the next day to fill out paperwork and make them relive
it all again. They don't tell about grown men breaking down and crying. They
don't tell about the longest, quietest drive home ever.
His roommate is the one who found him, called his parents, and drove his truck
home. He has closed the kitchen window blinds so he doesn't have to see his
truck. He had to close the kitchen cabinet to keep from seeing his box of corn
flakes. He is now afraid of the dark. Our season is over.
The human body is so frail, so easily damaged. If you have an accident in a
big city, help is only about five minutes away. If you have an accident in the
north woods help could be forty miles away or more. Think about it: that's like
having an accident in Milwaukee and having to wait for an ambulance from
Illinois. And then having to go to a hospital back in Illinois.
I am not asking for speed limits, or other restrictions. Just please, PLEASE be
careful. Slow down just a little. Skip that beer and have a soda instead. Ask
yourself if it is worth the consequences to go flying through the woods. Your
friends WILL wait for you. Death is forever. Think of all the good times you
would miss. Take a little time and look at the beauty of nature. There are those
that no longer can.
We laid Jim to rest today. If only one person is affected by this pointless
loss, and a single life is saved, Jim's death would have meaning and all of us
could have some closure.
I know you think that this only happens to "the other guy! ". So did we. Just
like you.
Justin, Dan, Joe, Jim G., Randy, and Craig
Last Update: 09/05/2006