WRITING: MEMORIES OF WINTER...

This is a difficult time of year – happy and festive with all of the holidays.  Gathering together with loved ones on Thanksgiving and Christmas is wonderful.  It is especially joyous to welcome new family members.  However, it is also a sad time of year – remembering our family members who have passed on and realizing how quickly time is moving on.

Thankfully, I have vivid memories of these holidays of past years.  One wonderful picture shows my four younger brothers decked out in colorful winter pajamas lining the stairs in our family home.  Another picture captures the mounds of snow piled up in the center of Main Street.  I grew up in a small South Dakota town, and clearing the streets after a snowfall meant depositing the snow between the two lanes of traffic – as winter went on the “mountain” between continued to grow.  It was a fun place to climb – if one were careful about the traffic!

Still another memory that surfaces is my dad hooking up our sleds behind the car and taking us for exciting, bumpy rides around the area. We also used to drive the car down onto the frozen river and spin around!  I don’t think we worried much about the dangers of our activities then!

I especially enjoy receiving holiday cards/letters from friends and relatives – it’s so great to renew connections.

So put on the holiday music, trim the tree, and decorate the house – and enjoy this special season!

Wishing you all a joyous season -- Muriel