A Snowy Ride

It was the a few days before Christmas in Asheville, just  before John and I were married. We had just gotten engaged and life seemed perfect.  His mom and dad lived on Town Mountain in a lovely stone and cedar home that overlooked Beaverdam Valley. The view was spectacular.  It was especially exciting this day as his folks had gone to Hendersonville to visit with family and have dinner. We had that pretty house all to ourselves. We were watching the the local news and a snow storm had been predicted. So, with the a nice invitation up to a lovely house and a likely chance of get snowed in, and to watch the snow fall, sounded good to me.  It was a picture perfect evening with candles all a glow and warming fires to sit by and watch the snow coming in from the north side of the valley.  Before we knew it, there was six inches on the ground and it was still putting it down. We couldn't believe that it was coming down so fast!  A deep, wet, snow.  What more could you want for Christmas season to set the holiday spirit?  
John looked at me with a devilish grin and said "You know, we have a Flexible Flyer out in the garage, why don't we try her out?  What, now, go sledding, now?  Yeah, come on, it'll be a blast, a time we'll never forget."  So with John's enthusiasm and we found the sled out in the garage as he had predicted.  Dusted it off and proceeded to get dressed for elements of which the wind would be the worst.  Up on the mountain, one could hear the wind whistle and blow like no body's business.  Luckily, I had stuck my ski gloves in my car and I had my down coat, so all I needed to borrow was a scarf of some kind.  I had worn my duck shoes which were water repellent and insulated.  I did get a pair of thermal socks of John's to keep my toes and feet warm, nothing worse exist on the planet when your playing out in the snow and your digits go numb. 
As we got outside we realize that it's one of the brightest and prettiest moons we had ever seen.  Bright and full , for a moment we just stood looking at it as it was somewhat mesmerizing with the snow falling around us and the quietness of everything only the wind swirling about. There wasn't a sound.    I don't think I can recall a snow or a moon combination like that particular one.  We had no trouble seeing anything and this was about eleven at night. We had to go up his long driveway and then there was a long and I mean long ride to the bottom of the next hill. I loved hearing the snow crunch underneath our feet as we walked together, pulling the sled to our appointed launching pad. 
 When we got there we both giggled in the anticipation of what was to come.  John got the  sled ready and moved her back and forth a few times to get her in the groove he said.  I just laughed and said " Oh, is that what your doing!"   Yeah, are you ready to hop on?  As he got on, he wanted me to get on board this out-of-control contraption that only steered with what seemed like toothpicks now that I looked at it.  I had been sledding plenty of times, just not with a kamikaze in control.  The hill was enormous and the incline I have never been down such a narrow, steep slope and lined with pines and rhododendron.  I was beginning to doubt my driver and if he could navigate us to a safe landing.  Once more, I knew there was a hairpin turn at the bottom, how were we gonna to make that turn was beyond me. John has always been the more adventuresome one of us, this I knew for sure.  But , I trusted him as said "are you sure about this?  Oh yeah, this is gonna be great!" With a smile and wink he assured me I was safe.
I climbed on his back and hung on for dear life.  We were off like a flash, down the incline we went.  It went so incredibly fast.  Tears were in my eyes from the wind.  I hadn't thought of what if we met a car, but no way in this would someone be driving in this.  Right? Funny what thoughts go through your head when your zipping past pines, going thirty down a little snowy hill.  The swoosh of the sled was oh so much fun.  We giggled and laughed until...Oh, lordy, the hairpin turn is coming up. I heard John shout out to me, "Joy, lean to the left."  With eyes as big as plates I did just what he told me to do, but somehow as hard as we leaned, we didn't quite make the turn.  John shouted "Jump!"  We rolled off in a blanket of snow and the sled head right for a pine tree.  It splintered  and busted into a thousand pieces as it met with it's sad demise.  We sat there and just looked at each other, not moving a muscle or saying a word for a second, then burst into laughter.  That was the wildest ride I've ever had, on the snowy night, and one I'll never forget.  Two young kids in love and doing what kids do best....have fun in the snow and just making memories that last for a lifetime. May everyone make as happy memories this Christmas and keep the kid in our hearts be it ever so young.  Merry Christmas.