Snow storms seem to evade the Golden Triangle. I might be the cause.
When word began trickling down the halls of my old school in Rolling Fork that it was snowing up north in Leland, my classmates and I knew it wouldn”t be long before snowflakes would begin falling outside our windows, too. They”d be followed soon thereafter by the much- anticipated announcement over the intercom: “Attention faculty, dismiss students who ride the bus.”
We “town kids” walked or rode our bikes to school: Therefore, we would have to wait a bit. My house was just a hop, skip and jump across Deer Creek. Lucky us, we got to walk home in the snow.
Rolling Fork could always count on at least one “good snow” every winter, that being the 4-to-8-inch variety.
It would snow over that way often enough that mamas maintained well-stocked dresser drawers of make-shift snow gear, consisting mainly of well-worn wool hunting socks discarded by our dads, an ample supply of cotton gloves that could be easily dried and the essential wool ski cap to keep our ears warm.
Sleds were in short supply, which really didn”t cause that much concern, as hills for racing them on were nonexistent.
We had two choices for sledding, the bank along Deer Creek and the Indian Mounds on the south side of town. The creek bank was the slope of choice, but it was always a bit tricky, depending on how much water there was in the creek. Many a kid”s seat got dusted for returning home soaking wet head to toe after finding themselves on thin ice in the middle of Deer Creek.
Anything that would go fast was acceptable, from old scraps of discarded tin or garbage can tops to a hood from an old pickup truck that could hold upwards of five sledding daredevils. A friend of my dad”s made a wooden sled for me that may still be up in Mama”s attic. It got a lot of use over the years.
Some 20 years ago on the way home from work, I noticed a couple of Flexible Flyer sleds leaning up against Military Hardware. I made a U-turn and bought one on the spot. I wanted my kids to have one. I jinxed them, and us. Since that time, there has not been one ice or snow storm that would have warranted my getting it down from the attic.
Kids are starting to sprout up over in my neighborhood once again. I found the sled in mint condition a few weeks ago while up rumbling around in the attic and brought it down, just in case.
I hope I didn”t jinx us for another 20 years.
Heavenly music
Before I close, let me remind you now to begin making plans for next year”s First Presbyterian Church”s Christmas music service. First Prez is the church you can”t see up on the hill, on Bluecutt Road, in Columbus. I was there last Sunday for the second year in a row. Under the talented leadership of good friend Susan Smith, they have a choir like one you”d expect to hear up in heaven. A tip of the hat to all of them for getting me in the Christmas spirit.
Finally, to you dear readers, thank you for putting up with me for another year. I appreciate your calls, e-mails and taking me aside ever so often in the Walmart. You make this fun.
Merry Christmas!
Roger owns Bayou Management, Inc. and is also a semi-pro guitar player.
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