Finding Freddie

When I was young I had a little French boyfriend named Freddie. Freddie and I ruled the world back in the day...well I did and he went along with it...for fear I would beat him up, or worse...make him kiss me! Freddie and me were outside all the time...from the second we got up until our mothers dragged us in after dark. We played dinky toys, explorers of the earth, Cowboys and Indians, Johnny and Roy (Emergency...for those of you who are old enough),raided gardens, and much more! We biked all over hell's creation, went to the frog pond, climbed cliffs (which actually turns out to be a very small rock wall...but it was HUGE back then!). I even made Freddy play Barbies (basically with a gun to his head- kiss threat).We basically 'played ourselves out' everyday! I had to most wonderful childhood with Freddie.

In the winter time, Freddie and I were out all day again and drug in against our will at night. We went sliding, built snowmen and forts, had snowball fights, or just plain old played in the snow. Our yard was huge so Dad had it plowed. Every snowstorm that plow left us kids the most amazing natural 'toy' you could imagine....a HUGE big ass hill of snow...right in our yard! One year my sister and her friends created this amazing snow house. They dug from high up so you had to climb some snow stairs and slide into the fort on your belly...from the top. They had dug out a room at least 10 feet wide and 10 feet high (in my little world anyway). It was a real IGLOO!!! I don't know if they poured water in it or what...but the inside of this fantastic fort was shiny and polished. They made ledges and had candles in there. It was a snow mansion! What a spot!

Every first snowfall I think about Freddie. Let me tell you why. I am sure everyone who reads this blog is of the era where all snowsuits were one piece. Getting dressed to go into the snow was a BIG arduous deal! You had to put on the long johns, undershirt, pants, sweater, double socks, step into that snowsuit with the elastic bands under your feet. Shove those damn 'snowmobile' boots on (the ones with the liners) and tie the damn things tight. Then a hat, then mittens. Well, one day Freddie came to collect me to play outside. I must have been over tired because on this particular day the 'snow suit' routine had me huffing and puffing, sweating, tired and UGLY! When I finally got outside...Freddie was nowhere to be seen. I searched everywhere and screamed for him...no answer. Then, I followed his footsteps to his door and rang the doorbell (he lived upstairs). There he was...undressed and inside!!!! I am living proof that you are 'born to be' because at 7 years old...without hesitation...I stormed up the stairs and drug him by the neck outside!! I wanted to KILL him! I 'allowed' him a few minutes to go back inside and get dressed...and within minutes we were playing and having fun again. (Sorry Freddie!)

That was our last winter together...Freddie's family moved away. I was never the same. I heard through the grapevine they moved because he told his Dad he couldn't play hockey anymore...because I wanted him to play Barbies! I found out years later that it wasn't my fault...they simply bought a house (they were renting an apartment from my parents). I wish somebody told me that when I was 7...it would have saved me a ton of counselling !!!

I wish as adults, that it was perfectly acceptable to go outside and 'play'...spend hours and hours in the snow for no reason. No television, no deadlines. I don't think there would be any problems with obesity if we all kept our childhood enthusiasm for snow. In fact, I find it almost tragic that the majority of us bitch and gripe about snow in the forecast, snow when it's snowing, and winter in general. Unless we live in the Caribbean, snow is a fact of life...at least 1/4 of our lives every year! What a shame everybody hates it! This year, my stepson had 2 room mates at university who had NEVER seen the snow. One was from India, the other from the Bahamas. The first snowfall of the year...they ran outside in a child-like wonder. They jumped up and down, stuck their tongues out to catch some flakes, made their first snowballs and snowmen and snow angels...and then rushed to call home to tell their parents all about it! Isn't that wonderful?

I have been lucky enough to maintain a child-like excitement whenever it snows...thanks to my days with Freddie. I love the bright and shiny diamonds that glimmer everywhere! I love how it makes the night glow bright. I love the calm and peaceful feeling right after a storm when nobody is around. So, tonight (as always when it snows) I go outside dressed to the max with my hubby Boo to 'play'. Thank God for 2 piece snow suits now!!!! Boo actually cleans out the driveway with the snow blower and I clean the stairs and car off. BUT, I still have that excitement in my belly...and we still fool around and giggle like kids. We usually make snow angels...well kind of...no snow angels tonight (bummer) because I didn't get the opportunity to tackle him into the ground tonight! I am still forcing boys to do what I want! Oddly enough, my husband is a little Frenchman that I 'bully'...and I force him to kiss me!!! I wonder if that has anything to do with finding my own little Freddie?

Lynn
;)