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Home > Duluth.Talk > Archives > 2006 > July > 18 > Entry

Summer snowballs?

By BENI DAKAR | Tuesday, July 18, 2006, 06:09 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution


Beni's Bio

Summer has long been my favorite season.

Nearly three decades since my school girl days have faded away, I still remember how slowly those last few weeks of school seemed to drag by while eagerly waiting for summer vacation to begin.

I am fortunate to have many wonderful summer memories. However, one memory reigns supreme: The July 1967 snowball fight. Yes, a children’s snowball fight, right in the middle of July.

Like many Gwinnettians, much of my life’s history is in another place. My beginning is in the Midwest, where we fully experience the gladness of all four seasons.

My mother and Aunt Addie, unbeknownst to anyone else, had made dozens and dozens of snowballs throughout the winter and stored them away in brown paper grocery bags kept in my mother’s big deep freezer.

One hot and lazy mid July summer afternoon, my Mom and Auntie challenged about a half dozen of my playmates and me to a snowball fight.

We all looked perplexed and nervously laughed at the adults who proposed such a preposterous idea.

After all, it was hot - July hot – and there was scarcely a cool breeze to be found, much less any snow.

Suddenly, the unbelievable was made believable. Against the backdrop of 90 degree and rising heat, winter’s chill splattered all over my face. Someone had tossed a snowball at me.

My friends’ eyes widened with wonder. Nervous laughter turned into unrestrained merriment.

Like magic, sacks and sacks of snowballs appeared.

For about 15 minutes we enjoyed a supernatural like bliss of hurling the cold snowballs in the summer’s heat at one another.

To this day, that is the most counterintuitive fun that I have ever had.

The other kids could not wait to tell their parents about the summer snowball fight. Several parents came by our house to verify that such an event had indeed occurred. Perhaps, they thought their offspring had just made up a silly story?

I now think about how much love and intention my mother and aunt put into planning for a few minutes of summer time fun for my buddies and me. I wonder what were their thoughts and their inspiration to make and sack and store dozens of snowballs in the winter – to be used as ammunition for a July snowball fight by their daughter/niece’s playmates.

The memory of those remarkable ladies and the delight of that summer snowball fight continue to bring me pleasure.

What is your best childhood summer memory?

Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Beni Dakar

Comments

Commenting is now closed for this entry.

By JellyBeans

July 18, 2006 08:02 AM | Link to this

This is a cool story, for a hot summer day.

I think your story would make a great children’s book. Have you thought about doing that?

By Kyle

July 18, 2006 08:15 AM | Link to this

Funny story.

By Woody Bass

July 18, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this

Hahahaha

By MDD

July 18, 2006 03:48 PM | Link to this

I enjoy your story and I agree with “Jelly Beans” you should really consider writing a Children’s Book about this - How very Delightful!

By MissP

July 18, 2006 03:58 PM | Link to this

What a lovely story! I’m going to remember to do this for my kids. Thank you for sharing this.

By Karen

July 18, 2006 11:39 PM | Link to this

Great idea! I will remember it next time it snows here in Gwinnett Co. Ga.

By Johnnie

July 20, 2006 02:07 PM | Link to this

Summer snowballs melt my heart.

 

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