3 Sisters and 25 Snowmen

 

Every winter there was magic in the winter air when we had a big snowfall in Sturbridge, Massachusetts where our father built our house on Cedar Street. We children loved all the land and hills on our property where we frequently enjoyed sledding.  At the end of Cedar Street was the Old Sturbridge Village where we often went on field trips with our school classes.  We loved the horseshoe nail rings the blacksmith   made for each of us as we squealed with delight.  Bundled in our snowsuits like sausages in casings, with hats, mittens and boots, we ran outdoors for several hours of making snowmen.  We discovered it was easier to roll them downhill and soon we continued making an entire village of 25 snowmen.  We played imaginary games with names for the snowmen, snowwomen, and children and had hours of delight.  When our mother called us in as darkness approached, we excitedly  told her all about our adventures as we enjoyed hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Deep winter is upon us here in Upstate New York with just the right kind of snow to build the best of snowmen. Sadly, neighborhood children are seldom to be seen outdoors building them. One young neighbor with three small girls has her children out as much as possible.  I miss those days of carefree outdoor play with no adults to interfere with our imaginations.  Except for an occasional group playing touch football in the neighborhood streets, I simply no longer see children playing outdoors in winter.  Has technology ruined imaginary play  outside? Many of our children have become obese as they sit hours inside with video games.  Or has everything become organized to the extent that children are no longer free to be children as they are driven from one activity to another?  I noticed the results of this in my classroom as tired teens tried to concentrate and focus on learning after being up all night with video games.  If parents and teachers would advocate for technology-free weekends  or even vacations, our children would be healthier in body and in mind.  It is my hope that somewhere, children are enjoying the outdoors and building snowmen still. So from my book, A Past Worth Telling, I offer my readers a poem of that memorable day in Massachusetts.

Twenty-five Snowmen

Bundled in snowsuits
Sliding down hills
On our wooden sleds
Rosy red cheeks

And cold hands
Through mittens
Which were wet
From building

Twenty-five
Snowmen and
Summoned inside,
We warmed ourselves

In front of the
Fireplace.
Played outside
All day long.

In snowy
Sturbridge.
Those were
The days.