The Sled

The Sled.

One cold night last
February, snow fell
in the streetlight,
gliding like angels
floating their way to
the ground.

In the morning,
I beheld
inflated grey clouds
overhead,
creating a dark aura
that loomed throughout
the day.

My foot sank
six inches.

As the roads were
plowed, my wife decided
to chance it and left
for work.  

Hmm, I wondered,
while looking out the
window at the garage.

Inside,
my flexible sled
from childhood
hung on nails
sticking out of the studs
on the wall.

“Nah, I’m too old,”
I thought.

After polishing
the metal blades,
I took it and walked to
the 'hill' my friends and I
coasted down
when we were kids.

It sat on the edge
of a large sand lot
behind my house.

No one’s around,
I thought.
I’ll just try it.
If it doesn’t work,
forget it.

At age 61,
I felt determined to
give it a try.

Sitting on the sled,
with one push
and guiding it with my feet,
I dashed down the hill,
which now seemed
shorter to my adult body.
Yet in seconds,
I picked up speed,
forging ahead
for about 50 feet.

Walking back up the hill
for the 4th time,
I remembered
the laughter,
the races we had to the
bottom.
It felt good and
kind of invigorating.

Hanging the sled back
onto its perch, I had one
thought...
not bad for an old guy.

“What did you do today,
honey?”  

“Just did some work in the
garage,” I replied.

Some things are better
left unsaid.

Author's Note

Some experiences are best kept private.

Reviews

[Lorry]

I was waiting for the "D'oh!" moment, which would surely have occured if it was me sliding down, but sometimes that little kid escapes from the sensible growedup snd takes cintrol for a while. Maybe itstgeifyou let him that avoids the inevitable accident, instead of worrying about the what ifs", like explaining to tge A&E staff just what the hell i was thinking about sliding on my a*s, or worse, that lady in your life thats in serious mode and you know she'll never let you forget it! 😁
And here was me thinking i was living on the edge having a snowball fight!
But sometimes you just gotta do what that "mini me" kid wants to do! 😀