Toboggan

Following the blizzard and subsequent snowfalls last month, I started hearing great stories from people about snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing and sledding.  All of the stories brought back fun sledding memories with our good friends, the Hillmer family.  As an only child, I didn't do much sledding except when the Hillmer family invited me to do so.  Bud and Sharon Hillmer and their children, Pam, Jon, Susan and Carol, gave me those fun memories.  On evenings similar to those we've been experiencing recently, the Hillmers would pick me up and we would head to the north shore of Devil's Lake State Park near the Nature Center where there was a spectacular hill.  The Hillmers had a great, long sled that accommodated most of us.  We'd pile onto the sled and sail down the hill, laughing and squealing the entire way.  Bud was the "driver" of the sled to ensure our safety. Then, we'd dash back up the hill on foot, dragging the big sled behind us, only to repeat the process over and over.  Many thanks to the Hillmers for helping make my winters so long ago merry and bright.