By Jackie Henderson
Special to The PREVIEW
In 1970, Larry and I spent our first Christmas in the San Bernadino Mountains in a small cabin up in Crestline. The day we arrived we discovered the area had 3 feet of fresh snow, and only the main road had been cleared. Unable to drive to the cabin, we parked by the road where a group of people stood outside their house.
We got out of the car and Larry approached them and asked, “How far to the cabin?” The man replied that it was about a mile away. Fortunately, that kind man, who lived on the main road, lent us a sled. The deep snow reached over my knees, so without the sled to pull our luggage I could not have hiked all the way up to the cabin. His simple act of lending us the sled was truly one of kindness and love.
We loaded the luggage onto the sled and proceeded to hike up the snow-covered road to the cabin. Three feet of snow turned every step into a quiet trial of will. Just moving forward became slow and deliberate. The snow pressed against my boots like weight determined to hold me in place. As we trudged up the road, I soaked in the beauty around us. The fresh, glistening white snow blanketed everything. Sunlight shone across the mountainside, making the snow glitter like diamonds. The pine trees had thick white layers of snow on every branch. The world seemed so silent except for the soft crunch of our footsteps.
Upon reaching the cabin, Larry turned up the heat. Cold and tired, we were relieved to get settled inside. Later in the warmth we sat together sipping hot tea as we gazed outside through the large window to the beautiful, cold, white scene. A blanket of snow covered everything, creating a deep silence. The wilderness of the San Bernardino mountains lit by bright moonlight produced a wonderful, quiet and peaceful evening.
“Larry, a few Christmas decorations will make this time perfect.” I suggested.
Together, we ventured out into the cold morning to explore the area and came back with a perfect tree — a true Charlie Brown Christmas tree. This small, lopsided tree with a slightly bent trunk and sparse, uneven branches was simple, but full of character.
We collected some pine cones for our tree and then made our own decorations. Together we popped corn and strung it with needle and thread to make garland. From aluminum foil found in the cabin, we crafted shining balls and crooked little stars. While listening to Christmas music, we enjoyed decorating that tiny tree. The cabin slowly transformed into something warm and festive.
We created a memory wrapped in magic and love — a Christmas neither of us will ever forget.
This column may include both fiction and nonfiction, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of The SUN. Submissions can be sent to editor@pagosasun.com.
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