Just two days after Scott made it back to Italy on Tuesday, Benson was in a terrible car accident on Thursday. He fell asleep at the wheel while driving home from work and drifted into the oncoming lanes of traffic, hitting two other cars in the process.  He is okay, but has been pretty sore in the days since. The other two drivers were hospitalized, one went to the local hospital, and the other was helicoptered to another area hospital with a better ICU. They are both doing alright, but I don't know the extent of their injuries.  After Benson slept for two days, Scott was able to make contact and then drive up to Aviano on Saturday to check on our son. I tell you what, there is a lot that goes through a parent's mind when something like this happens. I wondered if he was okay, and if he'll be okay in the weeks and months to come. I wondered how it all happened, and what all the details were. A million other thoughts and memories came and went in an instant, recent memories...

Saturday was a perfect winter day that allowed Scott and me to go on a snowshoeing adventure for the afternoon. After doing some research on which direction to go that would have the best snow in addition to some nice views, we settled on driving north to Ashton, Idaho. There is a trail that used to be a railroad thruway and then about 12 years ago it was renovated to be a hiking trail instead. It's called the Ashton-Tetonia Trail.  The weather LOOKS cold, but it really wasn't. The temperature was about 31 degrees, but during our hike the sun came out in full force, and we began shedding layers as we went along.  After Google took us to the wrong starting point, we found a better option nearby on 4700 East, close to one of the entrances to Ashton-Tetonia Trail State Park.  We parked on the road behind a string of cars that had come to enjoy the trail as well. There was also a Search & Rescue Van and ambulance in the lineup, with their snowmobile unloaded and ready in ...