Snow

I love the snow.  I know many people don't or they only do when they can look at it or play in it.

I love it all the time.  I listen to other's grumblings about it and how they like it in the mountains, but don't want it in the valley.  I listen as other's proclaim it can snow as long as it melts right after so we don't have to deal with it for long.

My birthday is in December and I grew up in an area that had regular snow.  We had snow days at school almost every year.  They weren't little snow days.  They were "no one can leave their home" snow days.  I vividly remember the year we went cross country skiing in our pasture.  We could step over the barbed wire fences with our skis.  I have clear memories of sledding down the hill by our driveway, driving or riding a snowmobile through my grandparents property and trying to stay on the sled that was tied to the back. 

My brother and I would spend hours playing in the snow together and come inside through our basement door.  We tromped with our snow boots over to the large wood stove and stripped off our layers to lay them by the warm fire to dry out.  We flicked the snow off our gloves and scarves to hear the water sizzle on top of the wood stove.  After playing hard in the white powder we enjoyed hot cocoa and snuggled up inside to get warm again.

I took my driving test upon turning 16 in a fresh six inches of snow.  I passed.  I loved it.  I still love driving in the snow.  I know it is difficult and it takes more energy, but it also takes more skill.  I love using skill.

The best part of the snow is its full blanket that soothes the earth.  The white blanket smothers the brown shades left over from fall.  In addition to the visual beauty, the snow makes everything quieter.  The tires and feet make a soft crunching sound instead of the normal pounding against the concrete. 

Snow falls slowly.  We can watch it fall.  It's slow speed reminds us to take an extra moment.  It reminds us to pause, to look and to breathe. 

I know driving in the snow can be scary and dangerous.  I also know that letting the white powder wash through our spirit can refresh us and remind us that every once in a while, it's a good idea to see the world through new eyes.  Once in a while, it's helpful to see, hear, and breathe a little more deeply. 

Next time it snows, try not to moan about it.  See it for the freshness it is and enjoy it.  It will soon melt again and you will have everything back the way it was.