It was a crisp winter morning as the snow clouds moved across the sky above the small
town. Outside, a calm stillness filled the bitter cold air. Inside, the house was filled with a warm
joyous sense of spirit. I was staring out the window in a daydream when falling snowflakes
caught the corner of my eye.
Later on, my father could only watch the snow as it piled up on the car and in the
driveway. It was the weekend, but that would not stop the physical task of shoveling snow. In
fact, there was 7 inches of snow piled up and it was time to clear the driveway. My father and I
both went outside in the snow. His purpose was to shovel the driveway. Whereas, I went out to
play in the snow. Thirty minutes passed by and the driveway was cleared of snow.
At this time, we both were cold and our gloves were wet. Therefore, my father and I
returned inside to get warm. The snow continued to fall, but my father knew it would be easier to
shovel the next time. Now satisfied the driveway clear my father could relax. An hour passed and
we could hear the city plow coming from around the corner. The plow picked up all the snow
from the end of the neighbors drive all the way around the corner and dumped the mound of
snow into our drive. Nevertheless, the ritual dumping of snow into our driveway was known to
happen each time it snowed.
The next day, all the snow had settled and there was 10 inches of snow on the ground.
The town roads had been plowed and a mound of snow filled the end of our driveway. By the
time I woke up, my father was already outside shoveling the driveway. He was making room so
my uncle could park his car in the driveway. Uncle Roger and Aunt Rena had decided to stop by
and pay a visit to the family.
Soon after, my parents, aunt, and uncle were carrying on a conversation at the dining
table. In the meantime, I was pestering my parents to take me sleighing at Holmdel Park. My
aunt could see my boredom and she was beginning to feel confined in the smaller ranch house.
An hour passed by and my aunt thought it would be nice if she and my uncle took me sleighing
in the park.
Therefore, I started walking towards my sleigh and winter clothes. On the drive there, we
passed the train station and drove up and over a couple of small hills. We continued on over the
highest point and all our ears popped as we headed down the backside of the hill. At the bottom
and on the left hand side, we passed by the town police station. A little further down the road
was the local high school where I dreamed of attending. Then the road had straightened and
flattened out from beyond the high school.
Further down the road, there were large upscale houses off in the distance. The homes
were beyond open fields covered in snow. Local farmers used the fields to grow their crops
during the year. However, the right side of the road was dominated by a large hill. The hill
gradually sloped down and pushed away from the road. On the side of the road, the hill had
opened up into a local farmers concession stand which was boarded up for the winter. As we
drove by, I recalled picking out our Halloween pumpkins with my father just a couple months
ago.
Up ahead, the park entrance was getting near. I knew it. I could see the different size pine
trees planted along the landscape. The evolution of pine trees were laid out before me. The
earlier seedlings were up to 3ft. tall, they blended into rows that were up to 6ft. tall, and then on
up to 12 ft. tall. The snow spread out along all the many trees and their branches. A soothing
calm came over me as we drove passed the pines.
Suddenly, we were turning right at the corner of Pine Tree Farm. The park entrance was
not much further down on the right hand side. The road had a gradual rise that brought the
vehicle above the valley of houses on the left. We could see the roof tops covered in snow as
smoke flowed out some of the chimneys. In the distance, beyond the rooftops, I could see the
huge office building were my father was employed. The car was now on its slow decent over the
hill where the roadway leveled and the tree line ended.
Unexpectedly, the trees on the right ended and a long wooden open fence appeared with
two horizontal wooden poles. It was connected to wooden posts that continued down the length
of the road. The fence was painted a rustic redwood color, but now was capped with snow. A
huge field was just beyond. We could see the snow was flat and untouched. It created a feeling of
freshness and adventure.
In preparation, we slowed down for the right hand turn at the park entrance. The open
field was to our right as we entered and we could now see some children building a snowman.
On the left was the huge barn were employees cared for horses, pigs, chickens, and other farm
animals. The park roads were plowed and clear of snow. Continuing on, we made our way down
the entrance and then turned left into the parking area. Parking spaces where on the left and right
down a one way drive. Located on the left was the animal barn and to the right was a large lodge
building where everyone visited during their time at the park. My uncle pulled the car into a
parking spot near the walkway leading to the barn. I opened my door and sprang out of the car
excited to be in the park and that the fifteen minute long car ride was over.
Now, I was standing outside and could feel the cold air upon my face. My aunt and uncle
made their way out of the car and towards the trunk where I was already standing. Uncle Roger
opened the trunk and pulled out the sled handing it to me. Aunt Rena told me to grab her hand as
we walked across the parking lot towards the lodge. Restrooms were available via an outside
entrance that connected inside the lodge as well. I was so excited that I didn't want to stop, but
they both had to relieve themselves. So, they took turns while one remained outside with me.
Around the corner and beyond the building, there was a huge lake that was frozen over.
However, it was too early in the winter and not thick enough to ice skate on. A garage was next
to the restrooms where the park rangers stored their equipment. A walking path was plowed from
the garage of the lodge to the left side of the pond. It moved over a levy that led towards the
flower garden which was now covered in snow. The path continued on into the woods beyond
and around the pond. However, the path plowed to the right of the garage went along the pond
and across another open field where many footprints were visible. Beyond the pond and the open
field we could see the mountain filled with visitors sleighing down it. We followed the road
along the pond and headed out towards the mountain. In actuality, it was just a big hill.
Nevertheless, the hill appeared more like a mountain through the eyes of a young boy.
Further down the path, we came across a levy bridge that connected the huge pond on the
left with a smaller one to the right. We were now at the bottom of the hill and there was only one
way up and one way down. Visitors climbed their way up the left side of the hill. The rangers
had built a makeshift fence of light wood and orange plastic X material. The fence protected
visitors from the sleighs racing down the hill. The walk up took a good 5 - 10 minutes depending
on the visitors age. Younger children (like me) would rush up the hill within 5 minutes and find
an aisle to set up and get ready to sleigh down.
Once I saw an opening, it was time to run and jump on my sleigh. In an instance, I was
on smiling and laughing with joy as the excitement of going down the hill took over my being. I
found my aunt and uncle at the bottom and immediately asked if I could go up again. My uncle
nodded his head up and down. Before he could say yes, I was on my way up the hill again. They
watched me as I climbed up the hill blending with the crowd of visitors. It was another ten
minutes before my aunt and uncle saw me again. I made my way over to where they were
standing and I was ready to start heading up the big hill again.
However, This time my uncle suggested that I try something different. A mound of snow
was created from the plows along the side of the levy near the smaller pond. The mound was 10
feet high and my uncle helped me create a path at 45 degrees down the mound. It only took me a
moment to get to the top and I could sleigh down for a short ride. It was more enjoyable for me,
because I did not need to make the long climb to the top of the hill. Furthermore, I felt a sense of
relief from my aunt and uncle as I remained within their sight. I can still recall looking up at
them and witnessing the inspiration of love they possessed when they looked into each other's
eyes tenderly.
Finally, the outdoor elements had forced us into the lodge where we ordered hot cocoa. I
enjoyed the company of my aunt and uncle. We watched the logs in the large fireplace while the
smooth taste of hot cocoa warmed my soul.
