It was a rare snow day. The Puget Sound Area may get a good snow once or twice every other year. Because of the wet, mild climate in the Winter when it snows its bad drivin’ and good sleddin’. The snow is generally heavy and wet. It packs well for igloos, snow balls, snow forts, and sledding hills.
And there are hills. Many hills and steep. Roads are barricaded. Schools are closed. It is time to play.
The father took his three year old boy out in the snow to sled a great hill in the neighborhood park. The boy had rarely seen or been in snow so it was a special treat. The father regaled the son with memories of his childhood growing up in the Puget Sound area during snow days. As they headed for the park with sled in tow throwing snowballs at each other and laughing with the joy of the moment.
They joined other kids and parents at the hill. They were sliding down on anything that slid: inner tubes, disks, cardboard sheets, varieties of plastic sleds and faux toboggans. The father and boy climbed up to the top of the hill and waited their turn. The hill looked like a cliff to the little boy. But, he was with his Dad who always took care of him. He trusted him and felt secure. When it was their turn the Dad sat in the back and the boy sat in front tucked in between his legs, with big arms holding him tight. Off they went streaking down the hill, the boy squealing in sheer delight. Before they stopped the boy turned around with wide smile and bright eyes and asked, “Dad! Can we go again?”
“Of course!” And they did each time an exhilarating rush occasionally highlighted with crash that elicited much laughter.
After a few runs they once again waited in line at the top of the hill. Just prior to their next run the boy turned to his Dad and asked, “Can I go by myself?”
His Dad said, “Sure.”, a he helped the boy settle in the middle of the sled. The bright smile never left the boy’s face. There may have been a hint of impending terror in his eyes – but not much. As his Dad released him the boy looked back to confirm he was still there.
Suddenly a lump came to the Dad’s throat. It was the first time his boy wanted to go it alone. It symbolized that being together father and son was not always going to be. As his son slid further way and his image got smaller the future unveiled itself. Time goes very fast and what is today doesn’t mean it is the same as tomorrow. Everyone needs to enjoy the moment. Today. Now. The Dad felt a mixture of pride and sadness as he enjoyed his son’s courage and sense of adventure yet realized that it was the beginning of separation.
No comments:
Post a Comment