Vintage Sled Springs to Life

The basement light shrouded my husband as he sanded the steel runners on the old wood Flexible Flyer.

    “Works fine.  Just need to get some of the rust off the runners so she will go fast,” he yelled to me, intent on his task.

    “The grandchildren are getting their snowsuits.  Do you think they will use it?  I would not put too much effort into this.”

    “It won’t take me long.  It’ll be great to see this sled fly again.”

     “That’s appropriate since it’s named the Airline Pursuit.”

     “There were a series of Airline sleds built in 1935.  They curved the front runners to keep other sledders from being impaled.  It's called a Flexible Flyer because the rails bend allowing the sled to turn when you move the crossbars.”

    “I see the company’s name S.L. Allen Company, Philadelphia is still written there.  It says the sled has super steering and safety runners.  What more could the grandchildren want?”

Dressed for the Arctic winds, we piled the old sled, the new red plastic sled, the green top of a plastic tub, and two grandkids into the van and headed for an icy hill.  Reaching our destination, we climbed out and pulled the sleds to the hillside.  Icy tracks showed that others before us found the hill to be great sledding.  Both grandchildren stared at the old sled.  

“I’m scared to go on that one,” piped up the youngest.

“Look,” I said grabbing the front part of the sled, ”See, you can steer with your hands or feet.  It’s superior to the new sleds.”

He shook his head.  “You try it first.”

“Okay.”  I sat on the sled and placed my feet on the crossbar to steer.  My grandson pushed, and pushed, and finally with my help I flew down the hill.  My older grandson flew behind me on the red sled.

The wind sent shivers up my spine as I climbed the hill to entice someone to use my old sled.

The little one waited patiently.  I placed the sled on the ground and he climbed on, put his back on the sled, and stared at the sky.

Meanwhile, the green top got stuck part way down and my older grandson rolled off into the snow.

“How can you steer?” asked the little one still facing skyward.

'You can't unless you sit upright or lie on your stomach."

“I want PopPop to come with me.”

So my husband climbed on and I held the sled from taking off as my grandson wiggled between his legs.  

“I want to steer,” he said, gaining courage.

“No, I’ll steer this time, because I need to put my legs there,” said my husband.

As he maneuvered into position, the red sled zoomed past.

“Ready?”

“Yeah!”

I let go and watched as they raced down the hill. I flew back in time remembering sledding with my Dad.

My older grandson observing said, ”My turn to use the wood sled.”

“Sure.”  

The others came back grinning.  “I want to try, on my belly, by myself.”

“After my turn,” said his brother.

I grinned as the old sled sprung into action.