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It's time to thaw out memorable winter tales COLD'S COMING

September 21, 2008 12:16 am

WHEN THE words "snow," "cold" and "fun" are mentioned in the same sentence, my thoughts, like most folks', jump to favorite days gone by.

I remember weeks of sledding as a youngster, when so much snow fell that we didn't go back to school for weeks after Christmas.

Weeks in January when it was cold enough for nightly ice skating on ponds and even a stretch of marsh near the river bridge at Tappahannock.

Even a freak ice storm more recently that had our family coming up with every game, outdoor adventure and time filler possible to keep from getting cabin fever.

Almanacs and long-range weather forecasts have mentioned the possibility of a long, tough winter this year--the first in a while. Seems like a good topic for readers to weigh in on.

So let's delve in: Send me memories of winter moments you cherish, whether they be of sledding and skating or special family moments that storms and cold created.

If you've got a winter nightmare tale, or memories of hardships and troubles brought on by cold or stormy winter weather, share that as well.

Trying this out on a few friends, I quickly had a handful of stories that ranged from tobogganing in New England to going crazy at the sight of a first snowfall in Florida.

There were several memories tossed in of holiday gatherings made special by weather that forced families to scramble or improvise.

On the not-so-fun side, I heard about getting trapped in a car on an interstate highway by a snowstorm, and a funny but slightly bitter mention of the horrible snowsuits that parents used to wrap around us.

You can share why you like, hate or simply put up with this thing we call winter.

A few things you must do: Include your full name, whether you are male or female (I don't want to guess), the locality where you live (Stafford County, Bowling Green, etc.) and a daytime phone number where you can be reached if there are questions.

Please use the information in the box included to share your thoughts and memories.

My personal winter moment?

I always flash back to Christmas at my grandparents' home in Westmoreland County.

Before a traditional dinner, one of my uncles unveiled a surprise.

An old sleigh he'd just gotten was in the driveway, with two horses at the ready and even jingle bells on the harnesses.

The road we'd traveled so many times in warmer weather was covered with an inch or two of snow.

With a blanket protecting us from the chill, we set off on a magical loop where the only sounds were the crisp clomp of hooves on the snow, the jingling of the bells and the dull whistling of the wind.

The bad?

Getting smashed in the face with snowballs--make that ice balls--when my group of boys took on another in a neighborhood winter war.

Nothing has ever quite stung that way since.

Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com