Saturday, December 27, 2008

Decorating with Sleds-Please don't do it.


I have to stop what I normamlly talk about to talk about a problem I'm seeing everywhere.

I don't think too many people decorated with sleds when I was a kid. The main reason was, if a misguided person tried to decorate with an honest-to-goodness winter vehicle of fun, at the first sign of snow, that thing would be a gonner!

This year, I've counted at least 12 decorative sleds. Actually, I've lost count. What I mean is these are REAL sleds adored and propped up on porches for decorative purposes only. People! THIS IS WRONG. I have half a mind to save these poor sleds myself and give them a proper life on snow. I want to wax up their blades with a little candle, like I did when I was a kid, and jump on their backs and whip down a good hill.

You see, these sleds are in no danger of being stolen for purposes of fun. Kids play guitar hero now and get very fat. They text message each other, and stay on Facebook. They don't care about cruising down a fast slope on a blade sled that's just standing out on any number of porches in the neighborhood, looking like it's gift wrapped just for me, I mean them. They probably would have NO SKILLS AT ALL! They would let the pull string go under the blades and grind to a halt, fly off sideways, or wouldn't even know how to steer one very well, and smash into a tree or something. It'd be nothing like a WWii game, so how would they know what they were doing? Well? Well?

What is happening to blades sleds should be stopped. They aren't merely a winter decor option!
Find something else to put a bow on that seems wintery. Try a fake snowman or something.
Ugh.

4 comments:

MissCleo said...

Decorated sleds..interesting. I guess I never considered that they may be denying a child the joy of sailing down that perfect slope...or corn field if you will. I have extremely fond memories of sledding and snow mobile rides with the dogs chasing us. Sadly I have absolutely NO memories of you or your brother joining us. I am kind of confused about your memories. We lived right next door and you were shielded from the rest of the neighborhood kids. We never saw you out playing. On the rare occasion you were outside as soon as we, or anyone else, was out playing you were scurried right back inside. I guess we were too evil. We would see you peering out the curtains in the front window. It really hurt our feelings so we would poke fun. (I had to repent for that. Technically I was mocking God) As a now born again Christian I often remember that and wonder what would have happened if Jesus had shunned the woman at the well. I remember how prideful and disrespectful your Mom appeared to be because our family did not subscribe to the religion you did. Believe it or not I learned an abundance from those years your family lived next to ours. Never will you know, as you were hidden behind the curtains, all that was truly going on in all of our lives. I resisted salvation for a long time due to that. The Lord worked it out in me and He still continues to do so as I struggle to understand things that simply cannot be understood in the carnal world. I do know one thing for certain. I will not exclude anyone, shun them, heap guilt upon them, or harass them into the "love of Jesus." We are asked to shun sin, the very appearance of evil, but we are never to shun the people. I really cannot fathom what it was we may have done as children to have your Mother afraid of exposing you to us. We were not having sex, doing drugs, smoking, looking at porn, causing violence, etc. Sure, we would act all big and bad and say cuss words but none of those other evils were present. My parents were extremely strict. We worked very hard. They just did not inject Jesus into our lives as the reason for everything. I pray for my family, and those we left behind in that horrible place we lived. So many there who are in need the true tender, nurturing love of a Savior. I also cannot explain why God chose me to lead the way in a family of non believers. I know I have failed and am confused and hurt by the circumstances of life and have not followed His Will in recent years. His love is still within me, my belief is still deep, however as of yet I have not surrendered all to Him. I know that...so does He, LOL. Even so, I know what it feels like to be cast out. I hope very much that aspect of fearful Christianity has gone from you. I really look forward to reading more of your writings.
~Melissa

LisaColónDeLay said...

Hi,

I'm glad you feel God's love for you, and are growing closer in a spiritual relationship with your Creator. To feel truly loved is unlike anything else. We're all on a spiritual journey, and we all make strides forward and backward. I'm very thankful for God's amazing love and grace.

Like you, I was just a kid, so I don't really know/remember how everything was back then, or how it appeared to people outside our family. I couldn't help how I was raised (homeschooled, and going to church, etc.), just like you couldn't.

I think my mom secluded us, yes. Especially from older kids at times. She was probably being protective in her our whacky way. But I remember playing outside every non rainy day, either in the woods or riding bikes. And we rode our blades sleds until they wore out.

Those were rough times for us, too. Our parents divorced, and I think my mom, and all of us, were just trying to survive as best as possible without much support, and with very little money.

I'm sorry you think of it as a horrible place. I never really liked Kiski HS much. We moved as I was going into my senior year, and it was huge improvement!

I don't remember too much about you. But, I wish you well, and your family. Lisa

MissCleo said...

Maybe most of your memories are from after you left. I remember when your parents got divorced and you left Mamont. The house you lived in there was surrounded by open fields...until my Dad planted a few acres of teeny pine trees. You should see it now! My Grandparents house burned down so it isn't there anymore and vegetation has taken over. After my Dad died we were finally able to force the sale of the land (120 acres of it). There were A LOT of crazy people that lived there...some of them my own family members! That is probably why I had such bad memories there. Maybe your Mom felt safer once she moved out of there. We moved my Senior year also. Things became very bad there after my Grandma and Grandpa died.
I think homeschooling is excellent. Statistically children who are home schooled fare much better than those in public schools even socially. Naysayers try to argue that but studies have proven the benefits. That is a lot of work for your Mom and she probably had to put up with a lot of flack for it.
We never had a lot of money either. My Dad built our house with his own two hands...and with all of us helping as well. It was not easy but I think it creates a family bond that is very deep. (Everyone working together, I mean.) Now days things are so much different. Not too sure the new ways are better ways.
How is your Mom and Dad now? And your Brother? One of my brothers died this past summer, and as I mentioned my Dad is gone as well.
Once you started going to Kiski we were in a play together. The Snow Queen or something like that. I didn't like the play much, I remember that, LOL.
You seem to be a wonderful person...warm and smart and helping people. We ALL came from somewhere and are moving toward something. Hopefully it is closer to God rather than...well YOU know! I am glad to have found you on here! Many Blessings to you!

LisaColónDeLay said...

MissCleo,
Sorry to hear of your grief and family losses. I lost my father too. When I was 20, he had a stroke, but stayed in a vegetative coma for over ten years. I was quite heartbroken, of course, and there is a hole in my heart from his loss still and the struggle of those years. My mother continues to live in Pgh area, as do my brother and sister with their families. But, I try to keep them, those things, and the bulk of the details of my personal life private/separate from this venue.

Yes, I vaguely remember doing some winter-themed skit or play for an elementary school once in some very minor role, but I forgot it completely until you jogged my memory.

Best wishes as you serve God, and continue to seek God's healing in your heart.
-Lisa