Posted
by Joel Mathis
February 13, 2007 at 5:21 p.m.
Snow
When I was a child I loved to play in the snow. One of my fondest memories is a "snow day" in 1983, when my friend Bryan Davis and I spent the afternoon building a snow fort, complete with igloo, around my entire front yard.![][1]Usually, though, I liked to confine my snow play to a corner of the yard. While I liked snowballs and sledding as much as anyone, I also thrilled to see an undisturbed sheet of white covering the lawn, sidewalks and everything else.I remembered that feeling this morning, on my walk to work. I didn't get out terribly early - 8 a.m. - but I was the first person to lay down tracks from the overnight flurry. (There were, however, tracks from squirrels and rabbits to be seen.) It wasn't quite perfect; enough of a breeze was blowing to disturb the snow's muffler effect on the world. Still, there was a satisfaction to be found in looking ahead at the unmarked, uncleared path.And, perhaps, some satisfaction in refusing to look back at the marks I had left. [1]: http://members.tripod.com/~brianpink/cholo-snow91.jpg
Comments
Lawrence.com does not necessarily agree with comments posted below - responsibility lies with the relevant user alone. Read our full policy.
Jo_s_mom (anonymous) says…
What a beautiful image! After dealing all day with the mundane thoughts of kids at school, it's so nice to read the words of someone with a poetic heart. I, too, love the pristine beauty of undisturbed snow... that and a warm fire to sit beside when it's cold outside. Maybe I'll get lucky and we'll have snow here tonight. Stay warm and hug my girl for me...Happy Valentine's Day from your grateful MIL.
leslie (Leslie vonHolten) says…
Nice. I have stood firm on the issue of possibly never moving from our current house because I love the way the snow looks in the woods to the north of us.
I love the quiet, too, and the unexpected reason to slow down. Next winter, though, I plan to have more wool socks.
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says…
very nice joel. i love the morning after a fresh snow.
as opposed to what can be days (or weeks!) after, with the piles of gray and brownish residues. the sand and salted remnants of what was pristine snow are sad reminders of it's former self. 6 feet tall in the dillon's parking lot.
i love the snow but i'm tired of winter. i need longer days and warm weather so i can enjoy my daily ride. and i'm exhausted by what seems like interminable cold and flu symptoms.
but yeah, the blanket of snow is a wonderful sight ;)
Joel (Joel Mathis) says…
This morning was something else entirely, trying to avoid slipping on badly shoveled sidewalks, in 3-degree temps that literally froze my mustache. (As soon as I walked in the office, there was this gush of water droplets onto my upper lip, the mustache thawing out.)
CafeSiren (anonymous) says…
What I like best is the quiet. You know, the way that new snow muffles the sound, especially at night? It's the aural equivalent of soft light.