The Fine Snow Falls
Even if the snowfall is of very fine wet snow . . . it does pile up. We had no reason to be out and about today as I noticed the street at the stop sign was slippery.
Many decades ago, in between Christmas and New Year, it was decided to go sledding. My sister Elvera’s family, and our family made plans to drive from our farms southwest of Hutchinson to Beaver Falls which is southeast of Redwood Falls.
Orlin’s sister had a beef cattle farm at Beaver Falls. Orlin and I knew the farm well as Orlin had been a farm hand for his sister and we lived on that farm. The hills of pasture were fantastic for sledding. They had not been so fantastic when the cattle had broken through gates and they had needed to be herded back into a gated area.
Elvera and I had made plans for the picnic baskets we would take along for noon lunch. Nether family could head out until the morning milking chores had been completed. In addition there were hog chores, young stock chores and we also had chickens to tend to. Elvera’s had never been to the back roads to get to the pasture that Orlin had in mind. We had a caravan of two vehicles.
Every one was dressed for the mild winter day. The pasture that we had in mind was just a bit off of the road and was surrounded by hills, putting our area for sledding quite sheltered. The banana plastic sleds could hold two people and we had plenty of sleds for solo trips as well. The hills were steep with brush cedars that needed to be dodged.
It didn’t take long and the nine of us were making the trip up and down the long incline. Trudging back up was another story. I think several times a small cedar tree was sacrificed. There were even several areas of the incline that a sled could catch a bit of air. No one complained about being cold, no one complained about being tired. It was a great, fun day. There was a tarp put down and the goodies for the lunch were laid out and the food could be enjoyed as each got hungry.
If memory serves me, that is the last time I did a summersault as my sled came to an abrupt stop and I did not. There was laughter, giggles and hoots as each of us put all our cares away and went for the thrill of the ride, over and over and over.
I don’t know about Elvera’s family on the way home, the trip was a least an hour plus, our car was very quiet in the back seat. All the kids were wore out and I think the four of us adults were also, but we couldn’t buy into it as there were farm chores and cows that needed to be milked when we arrived home.
That family memory is just as precious today as it was then. As per Dr. Seuss, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”
Oh my gosh, my life would be so empty if I didn’t have my memories. I hope your lives are as rewarding as mine when those quiet moments sneak up on you.