winter memories

 like so many  small towns in southeastern ohio

my town is built into the hills

that both shelter and harass the occupants

i still shake my head in 'bemusement'

at how houses are built seemingly on top of each other

the joke is that if there's a postage stamp plot

someone will build a house on it

however,

for kids loving outdoor snow time

the hills provide wonderful slopes

those same slopes that are treacherous

for their parents navigating to work and back

offer hours of fun and frolic

to those kids willing to brave the cold and wet

i remember sledding down the alley--back road to the stadium

we could start in my friend's backyard

taking a narrow path

not taken by cars

and turning aside before careening into the car-driven-part

we could shelter in her parents' garage

taking breaks from the cold

before heading back out

odd how that memory came back to me

as i thought of the blog carnival prompt of winter

i can still see that hill and tami's garage

i'm not sure who all was there

but i remember tami---
she's still a friend

my first husband and i chose to raise our children in a rural housing development

outside a  town  nearby to my hometown

plenty of hills

but the houses had big yards

with surrounding woods and fields

one of our neighbors owned a large acreage

and would permit the neighbor kids to sled ride--

preferably with parents

i don't remember my parents ever sled-riding with me

or even watching me

but my kids have the memories of both parents

sailing down the huge slippery hill

sometimes with one of them

sometimes solo

sometimes with our dog katie a somewhat willing passenger

she preferred chasing us

or running along side us

but would occasionally be a good sport

and ride

i remember pulling a child on a sled up the hill

and watching my husband do the same

i remember the laughter ringing through the hillside

the pink cheeks

sparkling eyes

i also remember

the piles of outdoor clothing in the downstairs hallway

and in the laundry room

and the bathroom

i remember that i didn't mind the puddles

 and damp hats, gloves, ski jackets and pants

i didn't scold

i just went upstairs

and

 fixed hot chocolate

for us all

that's winter for me

good warm memories that bring a smile

despite a divorce

nothing can take those moments away

i hope my children

see those moments

in their winter memories

part of one word blog carnival