We happened to go to Presque Isle this morning and on the way back we traveled what we call “the shortcut” to get back to our house. After the snow from yesterday and then again last night there was likely an inch of snow on the road. I happened to look in the rearview mirror, and the billowing snow behind the car reminded me of a day back in 1978 or 1979, on Thanksgiving weekend.
My sons were just small; in fact, one was in kindergarten and the other was still at home, being too young to be in school. We decided that morning we would go find a Christmas tree. It began snowing about noon that day and we struck out for Perham about two o’clock. I had an old Chevrolet pickup then and it had a homemade shack on the back of it to keep what we carried somewhat dry.
As we rode further into the woods looking for the perfect tree, I remember the snow beginning to fall harder and the wind coming up a bit. All of a sudden one of the boys said, “I see one!”
I stopped and backed up, and sure enough, right alongside the road, stood the most perfectly filled out tree I had ever seen. I cut it really close to the ground so the stump wouldn’t trip someone or an animal and loaded the tree into the truck.
We took that tree home and I cut it just right to fit in the tree stand and we set it up in our living room and we all decorated it.
Now you may ask, “What does that have to do with snow billowing behind a vehicle?” Well, that sight triggered my memory of the snow billowing behind my truck that day in the ‘70s as we traveled in the new snow to the woods to get a tree. It doesn’t have to be a specific happening or event that can trigger the memory, but it can be the lead-up to the memory.
We had a couple more memorable tree hunting forays, which I will share next time. Enjoy the lack of snow and lack of subzero temperatures, as I am sure they are in the offing. But stay in and stay warm, and most of all, Remember When . . .
Guy Woodworth of Presque Isle is a 1973 graduate of Presque Isle High School and a four-year Navy veteran. He and his wife Theresa have two grown sons and five grandchildren. He may be contacted at lightning117_1999@yahoo.com.
