Making warm memories
After work last weekend, I packed up my middle girl and her overnight bag for a trip to college to see her sister. She had been invited for a slumber party, complete with pizza, junk food and Netflix, in my older girl’s room. It was to be just the two of them, talking, doing their hair and staying up way too late.
They were so excited that they ran toward one another in the parking lot and hugged like they hadn’t seen one another in months. Their laughter was infectious, as was their excitement about the pizza that was set to be delivered. I pulled away from the school, reminiscing about my own trip to the school to visit my sisters nearly 20 years ago.
I had made the drive in the dead of winter because my sister’s car had broken down. (They both attended the same institution and shared two years there together.) I had gone to pick them up from the side of the road and ferry them the remaining way to campus. My car overheated when we arrived, so I stayed the night instead of leaving straightaway.
We didn’t have the luxury of ordering pizza, seeing as how none of us had any money, so instead we ate microwaved ramen noodles and canned green beans. While we were eating, we noticed it had started snowing, making me further glad I had decided to stay.
We went outside to play in the snow – it was a long time ago, remember? I was still a youth then!
It was nice, powdery snow. It wouldn’t hold together as a snowball, so making a snowman was rapidly decided against. We did make snow angels on the dormitory lawn before deciding that the snow was perfect for sled-riding.
Having not planned for the outing, we improvised. I was wearing one of those highly-fashionable-for-the-times, puffy, hooded Steelers coats that pulled over the head and had the deep front pocket. It was so warm and cozy, and slick enough to function as a sled.
We took turns wearing it to slide down a maintenance road. We would get halfway down the blacktopped drive and begin spinning in circles the rest of the way to the bottom. We squealed and laughed and turned red from the effort and the cold.
When we were finally spent – and soaked to the bone – we went back in to the dormitory to warm up and go to bed. It was good, solid, wholesome fun.
When I went back to pick up my girl, I hoped they had enjoyed themselves as fully as we had. They were still giggling and whispering together, so I’m sure they did. I’m told there was a movie marathon and toenail painting. My older girl’s boyfriend popped in to say hello, and they were able to baby-sit the kitten belonging to the girl across the hall.
The rest of the story will remain theirs to tell in 20 years if they choose. I’m just glad they are making memories together like my sisters and I did. If you’re feeling down, memories will often pick you back up and warm your soul. Just like that puffy coat kept me warm for way longer than it was fashionable to wear it.
Laura Zoeller can be reached at zoeller5@verizon.net.