Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Wrapping Paper and a Bow

When I was a child, many moons ago, I dreamt of a place like this.  It has everything a girl could want - a dedicated sledding hill, SNOW, the moon, and trees like my favorite wrapping paper.  I had no idea that it was real.  All I was missing Sunday was a sled.  Nevermind that there was a sign saying the hill was closed.  I met a mom and son with a sled in the parking lot and asked how the sledding was today - and they said it was great.  Two thoughts about this interaction with humans I must share: the lady looked like she thought I was nuts and/or was a little scared of me (not the affluent part of town), probably because I parked near her in the parking area which was actually just a pull through and I was trying to leave room for other vehicles to turn around or get past us so I smiled and made it really obvious I was there to walk my dogs; the other thought is that there was no one there.  NO ONE.  I cannot come up with a comparable example of a place like this anywhere I have ever visited or lived where there would be no other humans during daylight hours on a weekend with temps above zero.  And if you know my history - that's a fair few number of places to consider.  

This was a new park for us, a result of my efforts to keep my dogs from going insane with no windows to look out of at home (except the storm door when I prop the front door open on warmer days).  I couldn't believe it was 12 minutes from home or that I had never been there.  Also, it's a campground in the summer.  I had no idea.  

I was afraid I would miss the sunset and I like the view through the trees.  Since we were exploring I didn't know where the snow trail went (or if there is a trail there in summer at all).  Another couple turns and few minutes down the trail we were at some ball fields and had a great view of the sunset.  

There was plenty of ..... evidence that the adjacent neighborhood members access and use the park for dog walking.  We went with a leave no trace policy ourselves.

The bow - now that I'm an adult (hahahahahahah!!!) and an amateur snow scientist I know about gravity and how the moon can be up during the day and how the trees can look like the wrapping paper.  I also know why the sun/moon light makes the snow sparkle like diamonds.   And it hasn't taken any of the joy out of winter for me; if anything it has made it all the richer.