Snow Inspires a Memory

Hi all,

I was driving home from my mom's house in Vinton County and looking at the beautiful snow. My memory traveled back to those innocent days of youth and the joy of romping in the snow as a child and teenager. Wow, what memories!

I was thinking about the times my siblings and I, along with neighborhood friends, would spend an entire day and most of an evening sledding down a large hill in our cow pasture. The cows themselves would stay off at a safe distance, I'm sure marveling at the abusurdity of humans. It's funny how I can remember those times: the stinging cold on my cheeks, the stench of a bonfire made of flaming car tires (I don't think anyone was an environmentalist back then), the aching muscles and bones when we would bail from the toboggan or sled before it went into the creek--great fun!!

As I drove home I wondered, "Do kids still do this today?" Are they building these memories or are they using their Wii's to simulate sledding in the warmth of a modern living room. Do kids today know how good hot chocolate tastes when you've been out in the snow all day? Have they had feet so cold they needed to put them on their dads' bellies to get them warm (a favorite thing for me to do, although I bet dad hated it--that shows unconditional love).

I fear we are losing these simple pleasures and the memories that go with them. How do I know? On the drive over to my mom's and on the way back, I didn't see one kid outside on a sled.

Sad.

Whoever said youth was wasted on the young was right. I'd love to spend an afternoon and evening sledding. Yes, I'm sure my chiropractor and doctor would be overjoyed--the money they would make off of my injuries would buy them the latest sports car or trip to the Caribbean.

But it would be worth it.