• It always started out with a walk, a particularly long walk for a child of 6. But I didn’t care. I walked for what felt like hours to get to my favorite place in the wintry world. I walked next to the ominous looking man, who had my sled tucked under his arm. But when I looked up at him, I’d always get the most genuine smile a person could give. It was my favorite place with my favorite person, during my favorite time of year. We’d walk down one street and up another, around a corner and down toward the Merrimack River. We’d come to the real “happiest place on earth” at least for me. Up the hill we’d climb, all the way to the top, and we’d sit discussing which way we’d go down. I’d always get to chose though, because the man only wanted to do what I wanted to do. So we would make sure I was all bundled up, and we’d get on my small sled. Both of us would hardly fit, I always told him that we should get a bigger sled, but I never really wanted one. We’d inch slowly at first, and then we’d begin to pick up speed. Soon we’d be flying down the hill on my little sled. Sometimes we’d aim for the jumps, but we never survived the landing, we didn’t care though. Others we’d just go until we slowed to a stop, then we’d get up and hike back up the hill, making sure never to step on the sled tracks. We’d go up and down the hill so many times I’d lose count. And when I’d get tired, he’d pull me up the hill, while I sat in my sled, just so I could ride down. But once he got tired, we’d walk up away from the Merrimack River, around a corner, down one street, and up another, until we got home. Sometimes we wouldn’t go home until midnight. He just always wanted me to be happy, and if I wanted to stay out and sled we would. What I liked a lot was after sledding though. I liked it a lot, but not as much as sledding.
    Once we’d get home he’d make hot cocoa, pour it in a mug for me, and then he’d pour a tall glass of cold milk. He never understood why I had to have hot cocoa and cold milk. It was just one of those things he’d do to make me happy. My reasoning behind it was, that when I’d first come into the house I’d be cold so I’d drink the hot cocoa, but then I’d get hot, so I’d drink the cold milk to cool me down again. Then we’d stay up watching T.V. or playing video games. And if at any time it began to snow we’d stop. We’d look out of the window, and get dressed in our snow gear. Then we’d go downstairs and outside, then sit out on the front step. We’d just listen to the snow fall. No one really knows that falling snow makes a noise, but it’s a special noise. It is one that can only really be heard in the dead of night, while all is silent. It is an enchanting sound, one that seems to make the world feel at peace. And all I’d be wondering is when is the next time we’d go sledding.