Florida Chick Goes Sledding

I've never actually been sledding. I once went cross-country skiing - actually, I went twice. My parents had a moment in the late 80's when they thought cross-country skiing might be the next great family activity...and then they realized that no one in our family actually likes being out in the snow. I clearly remember renting skis at Reliable Sport and heading out to some trails on the north side of Holland. I also remember my dad rescuing me from a precarious situation in which I went down a very small hill, and my ski (still attached to my foot) ended up in the low hanging branch of a pine tree...not the intended outcome of the day.

I think that part of the reason I never went sledding was that it required wearing snowpants...and come on, let's admit it, snowpants are just not that attractive. Aside from the snowpants, I just don't like the cold, or the general outdoorsiness that sledding requires...this is why my kids, native Michiganders, both have memories of their first sledding trip with no, not their parents, but Mr. Brugger...a family friend who, let's face it, probably felt sorry for them for having parents that wouldn't take them out in the snow.

It's odd that my first sledding experience would happen down Fort Lauderdale on an 80 degree day...but it did. I decided to try something new and hop on a toboggan during our school's snow day. Snow day is the highlight of our students' year. A truck pulls up and deposits two tons of snow on the playground hill and the kids get to go sledding and drink hot chocolate and eat s'mores all morning long... it's the only place where I've ever seen snowcones as the after-sledding snack of choice. Anyway, by the time it was my student's turn, the snow was half mush, half ice and my students were face planting in the mud at the bottom of the.hill..which of course was the highlight. I stepped out of my comfort zone and jumped on a toboggan. I took my turn slipping and sliding down the hill - more afraid of getting dirty in the mud hole at that bottom than anything - but I made it, safe and sound. I don't think it was quite VanRaalte Hill, but I didn't have to wear snowpants and that was a huge bonus...plus, if you check the photo closely, you'll notice that I'm wearing flip flops - and that makes sledding in Florida all worth it.