Snow

Bean took the picture of the snow on the tree. I still get excited when I see the first snowfall, not that a dusting counts as the first snowfall, but when I looked out the window in my office yesterday there were big, fluffy snowflakes falling. I really love the wet snow that clings to the trees and shrubs. And I like it before the salt trucks come around. I love to watch Bird make a sled track for the kids with bumps that make them laugh with glee. And Oscar the dog, running and barking along side them. As kids we used to spend hours playing in the snow, coming in only to use the bathroom (what a chore that was!) or to get dry mittens. We had at least three pairs, and it took an awfully long time for them to dry. I remember igloos and asthma attacks, snowball battles and snow angels, and of course, snowmen. I remember, Molly, the sheepdog and how I put boots on her so her paws wouldn't freeze. She ran down the hill at the cemetery and all I could see in the moonlight were the boots flying through the air. As a pre-teen, I remember throwing a snowball at a car and the driver chasing after me. My brother was asked by that driver if my brother had seen a boy running past. My brother said no. I don't know if he said that because he was asked about a boy and I was a girl, or if he just did it to protect me. I do know that he yelled at me later and I ended up telling my parents because I was afraid he would. I remember the big snowfall the snow in March, 1993 that paralyzed the city...24 inches of snow over a two day period. It was the day of the St. Patrick's Day parade, and they still had the parade. The city was virtually closed down immediately following the parade for several days. Now, that was a bad winter. I hope the first real snowfall is a pretty one.