Decades Ago
Perhaps 45 years ago on a crisp New Year’s Day, two car loads of family hit the hills of Beaver’s Falls to go tobogganing and sledding. Beaver’s Falls is northeast of Redwood Falls. My sister’s family, Orville Trettins and their three children; Orlin, myself and Carrie and Kevin were ready for a day of fun.
It took a lot to get ready for this New Year’s Day. Each family had livestock chores complete with the morning milking. At that time Orlin was working shift work at 3M while I took care of livestock chores. It worked. The temps were mild that New Year’s day. I believe all nine us had parkas on that 3M had sold to employees as the parkas were sporting their new line of reflective trim on the parkas. Orlin took sizes from Elvera and there was little choice of colors . . . beige worked.
Elvera and I had planned the food and hot coco for a noon meal on the hills of the pasture that belonged to Orlin’s sister. There was cold chicken, sandwiches, cookies, chips and dip and even left over fudge from Christmas. Picnic potties . . . pick your clump of trees.
The plastic tub toboggans could hold two. I do remember that there were yellow and red ones and plenty to go around. There were scrub bushes to try and avoid on the way down. Trees were also not a good thing. If it was not to be, the best move was to tip over to avoid the hit. Going down went faster than climbing back up to the top of the hill. I do believe that day is the last time I did a summersault when my toboggan snagged some underbrush.
About three thirty it was time to pack up and make the long drive back to reality. I don’t know about Orville’s car, but we had two kids out napping when the heater of the car did its job. Orlin and I did the evening milking and the rest of the livestock chores while the kids stayed put in front of the television. No threat of mischief after such a busy day. I had prepared Bar-B-Q for our supper after the chores.
Hmm. Such a sweet innocent memory.
Today is mellow on Stauffer Avenue. I can sit in front of my 1,000 piece puzzle and look and look and am good if I find one or two to pieces to fit in. Today is a Saturday that feels like a Sunday. We didn’t make it above zero today . . . maybe tomorrow.