When their dad came home from work we would take them to Carondelet Park and zoom down slopes that seemed like mountains to them. Then, when we were so cold we couldn't feel our cheeks, noses or toes we would pile into the car and drive to White Castle (Crytsal's for y'all down south), fill up and warm up with hot chocolate, burgers and fries.
Last evening my son called and invited me to go to Art Hill with him and his eight year old son. I have a cold, and declined. I didn't tell him the real reasons. Mama's weight has increased since the days of his fond early sledding memories. If I were even able to plop down on the sled, and by some miracle it didn't get stuck in the snow, I just know that all this weight behind me would propel me at warp speed, a quarter mile down Art Hill and right onto the frozen lake. I didn't want to embarrass my grandson by alternately screaming, "Get out of my way!" to the hundreds of other people climbing back up the hill, and "Please, God, let that lake be frozen solid!" These days if I had to huff and puff back up the hill, my breath would fan the bonfire flames to new heights or extinguish them.
"Have fun, honey, hack-hack, snuffle-snuffle, maybe some other time."
When they were little we stayed out in the cold for hours and made igloos big enough to accomodate two children and the dog when they could catch her.
Last Christmas Eve I imagined Mother Nature tugging a big red satin bow, unwrapping a giant gift and dumping snowflakes fat as pancakes from the sky over our house. This is my favorite photo of our house. The snow was beautiful for a few days. Now, after several accumulating snows, salt-covered cars, clumps of refrozen dirty slush, I want her to snap the lid back on that gift box and tuck it away till next winter.
Yeah, I've had enough. This little plaque hangs on my front door during January. I took the picture last evening on one of the bushes out front, so you can see the lingering snow. And more is predicted!
I was a good mother, and my kids remember these fun times. I'll bet you have fond memories of your mom. There is a call out from Wisdom Has a Voice Wisdom has a Voice.com/, Every Daughter's Memories of Mother. They pay in copies, are open for submission until February 1st, and essays should be between 2,000-2,500 words. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, I wish you success.
14 comments:
Hi Linda....Ohhhhh, those were good memories you wrote about. I'll bet your sons go sledding with THEIR kids because you went with them, when they were little! Cute plaque, by the way.
I know what you mean about snow accumulation. We are buried here in the east! More coming this week. Yuk. "This, too, shall pass." Susan
I can't complain about snow because so many parts of entire country have worst things, for every storm here, we have been on edges or caught in pocket between boundries of the worst events.
I have been faithful to my SAD lamp but still, by end of January I begin just "feel" the grayness. I have a lot of winter left to go!
Hi Susan,
Yes, I know you folks are getting hammered with the white stuff. I feel sorry for you.
Claudia,
Glad to hear that lamp has helped. A sunny beach is about the only thing that will do the trick for me. Up until this year, we too were always caught in the pockets, I guess we are paying our dues this year.
I get a kick out of the look on your snowman's face--even HE looks like he has mixed feelings about the snow! :D Not to mention he reminds me of all of the mopping of slush I had to do when my children were little and loved snow. But really, all of those pictures struck a chord, as does your writing. Thanks for the link--great for those of us who missed the Chicken Soup Mother/Daughter deadline!
I am with Tammy...Thanks for the link. I guess I need to get really busy, since the deadline is right around the corner!
Hi, Linda!
I'm following!
I'm ready for spring, too! The snow is pretty, but enough is enough. There's a reason I don't live in Wisconsin or Minnesota!
Pat
www.critteralley.blogspot.com
Wonderful memories! Such things kids hold in their hearts forever.
Welcome Carol from Pennsylvania! adn Thanks to Tammy, Sioux, Pat and Lisa for dropping by and commenting. You all rock!
Cute snowman! And I love the plaque. I suppose I love the snow because I don't HAVE to go out in it if I don't WANT to. I don't think little ones get cold like we old ones do. My granddaughter was out today trying to scare her grandpa and she didn't have gloves on or boots, no hat and had to be out there at least 30 minutes waiting for him to come up on the tractor. She came in and said she wasn't even cold. Go figure.
Hi Lynn,
I know. My grandson is the same way. I think our blood thins as we get older, yeah, that's what I'm saying because nothing else sure does.
I love your photos. Do you scrapbook?
Barb,
I don;t scrap book. I have about five albums filled and one half full, that's when I feel behind and now I have one of those BIG Rubber Maid storage bins overflowing with old photos, I know, shame on me!
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