Sledding party!

     I am a city girl at heart.  I have never really ridden a sled down a steep hill let alone a tube.  I don't like the cold and I think snow is prettiest viewed from the window of my toasty house.  I moved to this cold mountain region over half of my life ago hoping to fall in love with winter and all its escapades.  I took skiing as a gym class while in college.  I tried so hard to fall in love with the idea of the sport.  When I was told to remove my earrings so as not to get frostbite on my ears I began to think I was pushing something unnatural.  It doesn't stop me from trying though.  Through the years I have built snowmen, had snowball fights, shoveled and scraped many a windshield.  The photographs in magazines of snowy celebrations always intrigued me.  Last night one came to life.  A whole photo shoot of the beauty and magic of a winter's night.
     The house matched any chalet that we could have driven hours to...the best part of the journey was its short distance of only a few minutes.  The house was warm and not just in temperature.  Pots full of chili and mugs full of cocoa started the night with excitement.  The theme was carried out with the toasty bonfire blazing in the snow while large dogs played amongst the crowd.  Hills were groomed for tubing and screams were giggled at as riders flew by at amazing speeds.  We toasted marshmallows and ate grilled burgers.  Woolen hats, gloves, scarves and boots made photographs with sleds suitable for any catalog or tourist brochure.  I was told I had to ride the tube down the steep hill.  I'll admit I was quite scared at the thought.  I grabbed my tube and made the tricky ascent up the hill.   It was one of those moments that define me.  I let fear in way too often and this was my chance to miss a fun thrill or experience it for what it was....I took the leap and slid ever so quickly down the hill squealing the entire time. 
     It was a magical wintry night.  Hospitable hosts made it absolutely wonderful.  It was cold as proven by my crunchy nostrils but I didn't mind it.  It was dark but the fire was gorgeous.  It was late but none of us seemed to notice.  It was the epitome of the image of winter in the Poconos I had always imagined and I have Croasdale to thank!!!