One of my most fondest memories as a child was playing in the snow. My parents had a toboggan that our family would pile on, going down steep hills on golf courses or at state parks. When the snow was too high to drive any where, I created a luge slide off of our back steps or went across the street to Jeanette’s. Although I never went as fast as I did on the toboggan, I always looked forward to building bigger and better courses each year.
When my 3 children were still young, I began to make a short slope off the back deck. Although my wife wasn’t initially thrilled with the idea, its become a winter tradition, that is of course when we get snow in Delaware. Over time, this luge course has turned into extreme tubing, starting on top of a slide on the deck, continuing down the steps of my deck, guided by picnic table benches, winding around a U-shaped wall before ending some where near the back fence. Who said adults couldn’t still have fun or be a kid at heart.
Anyway, with my oldest son now in driver’s ed, it won’t be long until there’s an empty nest with no one left to entertain or raise. Thus, I hope I cherish each snow day that I have with my children before they’re all grown up. While my body isn’t what it use to be, I still enjoy playing hard and passing on an appreciation for life. In the end, I pray that my children will develop their own winter traditions, thanking God each time it snows.
by Jay Mankus
