By: Rita Butt

We had some on our roof for a couple of days.  

We can’t believe our beautiful autumn is over and our annuals are gone forever.

It is interesting to see the reactions of folks due to the change in the weather.  

Small children are elated, adults frown and seniors cringe.

When we were children, we thought it was great to see the first snowfall and we couldn’t wait to go skating, skiing and tobogganing.  

Everybody had a sled, skates and skis.

Some even had bobsleds, while others sailed down the hills sitting on a large piece of cardboard they had coaxed from the grocer.  

Some tried to skate in their older siblings’ hand-me-downs.

Boys made forts and played war with snowballs.  

Some dug caves while girls shovelled out rooms in the snow and played house, sitting on carved-out chairs and beds.

Of course, all this fun was only after they had done their share of shovelling.

Nobody ever had lessons in skating, hockey or skiing.  You just had to watch the others and figure it out for yourself.  

Most of us had tube skates except for the posh girls who had figure skates and twirled and pranced around while the rest of us were still trying to figure out how to round the corners of the rink.

Every school yard had a rink and a loud speaker sending out the songs of the day and sometimes classical waltzes.

No matter how many times they played The Skater’s Waltz, it was always the favourite.  

There were allotted times for hockey or plain skating.

We all walked back and forth to school, no matter the distance or the weather.  

We played and threw snowballs at one another and maybe at the horses delivering bread and groceries.  

We never seemed to mind the cold or the bluster.

Every child had to be outside part of the day.  

Even babies were bundled up and put in their carriages on the front porches or pulled along in sleighs.  

We believed in fresh air for everyone.

We all came home with rosy cheeks.

As you grow older, your great pleasure turns into dread and fear.  

Adults worry about their cars, their tires, windshield fluid, scrapers, shovels and brooms and hope their defrosters still work.

Senior citizens worry about falling, slipping and tripping.  

They would love to be outside because they can remember the joys of their youth in wintertime.  

Now, all they can do without worry is stand perfectly still and catch a few snowflakes on their tongues.

It is hard to realize those happy carefree days are gone, but it is always a joy to remember them.  

You smile and think of your happy childhood again.