Ponce de Leon had it wrong. The fountain of youth was never bubbling away in some mangrove swamp in Florida. Rather, it rests on a hillside in winter, during the first snowfall of the year, the Tashmoo Overlook to be specific, where on Saturday all manner of children, big and small, towheaded and gray-haired, took to their sleds.

The hill is not huge, but the view is. While the snow fell, depth perception blurred until it seemed possible to launch off the hill and land somewhere halfway to the Cape.

The first snowfall, a heaping eight inches, arrived with an added bonus, it fell on a weekend. There was no school to get in the way of the fun, nor breakfast-table conversations tinged with a melody of disappointment. “Wait until I finish work, then I’ll take you sledding.”

On Saturday it was indeed all hands on sleds or at least to the backyard. Kids who just a few days before may have fought a parent’s request to play outside, now took the lead. There is more speed on a slide covered with snow, more companionship in a snowman or snowwoman than seems possible, and more beauty and grace in a yard dotted with snow angels, both big and small.

And yet all was not joyful this past weekend. Amidst the beauty of the first snowfall there was also a tragic loss. The laughter and smiles of Saturday gave way to sadness upon hearing the news on Sunday morning about Amanda Hutchinson.

Winter has a way of reminding us of the fragility of life.

Our hearts go out this week to Amanda’s family.