Simple
My neighbor Bill once told me that there weren't any houses or streets when he moved here in 1962.
The old pasture, where my house now sits, was where his daughter learned to ride a horse. He'd climb the hill behind us to search for the old square wooden nails in the ruins of the old boys ranch.
In the winter, his kids raced down the hill with their wooden sleds, along with many who ventured out from town .
"Awww!" I thought this afternoon when I looked across the street and saw the old sled propped up by his porch.
"So, that's where it came from."
Last Sunday, I stopped shoveling snow to watch the boy from down the street pull the sled and his little sister Sadie past our house.
"May I have a ride?" I'd laughed, waved them on, and returned to my task.
He certainly looked relieved as they continued on to the house next door where their playmates, Katarina and Keanu live. It was cold and I was glad to see them go inside.
I've chosen the sled as my entry into this weeks Thematic Photographic Challenge.
Carmi at Written Inc, says: This week's Thematic Photographic theme, simple, can take on many forms.
I thought of several ways that simple reflects in my photo and story.
Life around here was definitely more simple when this sled was varnished and shiny with a bright red stripe on each side. Simple for the kids, anyway. Bill and his late wife, both teachers, raised two sons and four daughters in that little house. I'm sure he would say that "simple" is relative.
Today I thought fondly of his simple, but kind, gesture. He shared something of himself that these kids will certainly recall in years to come.
And for me, there was nothing more simple and sweet than watching a big brother pull his younger sibling through the snow.
I felt the simple yearning in my heart for the days when I was the little sister. I felt loved and special - sitting on a little wooden sled, making tracks in the snow and my memories.
(Join in this week at Written Inc.)
The old pasture, where my house now sits, was where his daughter learned to ride a horse. He'd climb the hill behind us to search for the old square wooden nails in the ruins of the old boys ranch.
In the winter, his kids raced down the hill with their wooden sleds, along with many who ventured out from town .
"Awww!" I thought this afternoon when I looked across the street and saw the old sled propped up by his porch.
"So, that's where it came from."
Last Sunday, I stopped shoveling snow to watch the boy from down the street pull the sled and his little sister Sadie past our house.
"May I have a ride?" I'd laughed, waved them on, and returned to my task.
He certainly looked relieved as they continued on to the house next door where their playmates, Katarina and Keanu live. It was cold and I was glad to see them go inside.
I've chosen the sled as my entry into this weeks Thematic Photographic Challenge.
Carmi at Written Inc, says: This week's Thematic Photographic theme, simple, can take on many forms.
I thought of several ways that simple reflects in my photo and story.
Life around here was definitely more simple when this sled was varnished and shiny with a bright red stripe on each side. Simple for the kids, anyway. Bill and his late wife, both teachers, raised two sons and four daughters in that little house. I'm sure he would say that "simple" is relative.
Today I thought fondly of his simple, but kind, gesture. He shared something of himself that these kids will certainly recall in years to come.
And for me, there was nothing more simple and sweet than watching a big brother pull his younger sibling through the snow.
I felt the simple yearning in my heart for the days when I was the little sister. I felt loved and special - sitting on a little wooden sled, making tracks in the snow and my memories.
(Join in this week at Written Inc.)
Comments
i can remember sleighing on a sled such as that, in the dark, on a back street that was too filled with snow for any cars to use the street yet!
ahhh.. life, when you don't realise it all ends one day.
Your sled reminds me of a post I had done earlier of one from my childhood memories. I've included the url if you'd like to check it out.
http://ancestrallinks.blogspot.com/2008/11/winter-memory-for-one-single-impression.html
Thanks for your visit and comment.
ann
Great subject for the theme.
I always thought it was interesting, watching that scene in It's a Wonderful Life where the kids are "sledding" downhill on shovels- apparently not able to afford real sleds!