JANUARY: 12 DATES for COUPLES in 2022

One of my most favorite dates with my husband was during our second year of dating.  He had the day off from work and talked me into going sledding at Chestnut Ridge.  This is a local state park with a huge toboggan run.  We searched our parents’ homes for our childhood sleds, bundled up, and drove to the top of the hills.  As a twenty-year old, it had been years since I plopped myself down on a plastic saucer and went spinning down a snowscape.  We laughed like all of the other kids careening down the fluffy stuff without a care in the world. . .until we had to climb back up the hill.  Then we laughed even harder as we tried to push and pull each other up the icy path back to the top.  I think we only sledded down the hill a couple more times before we realized we weren't 10 anymore.  Then he took me into the lodge for some hot cocoa and we warmed up by the fire.  

The most memorable part was our walk back to the car.  We piled the sleds in the trunk and as I walked toward the car door, he came barreling at me, picked me up, and tackled me in the snow.  On top of the peak, looking out over the city, we rolled around in the snow hugging and kissing and laughing some more.  We must have laid there for an hour, not feeling one bit of chill, as we shared stories from our pasts and dreamed about the life we wanted to create together.  Now every time we take our kids sledding, we recall this memory and share a kiss to commemorate a dream come true.  

January: 12 Dates for Couples in 2022