For you who love heat and sunshine, snow brings on gloom. I get it. For me, it brings peace. Hey, I hate driving in it as much as anyone. I am terrified of ice and do the penguin-walk with the best of you.
Every year I would hope the first snow I would occur while I was at school. My classroom overlooked the cafeteria. The cafeteria at Kilbourne High School was lit naturally by skylights and a wall of windows. Beyond those windows was a stream surrounded by trees.
No matter if the flakes were large or pellet-like, the snow would enhance the ravine and bring excitement to the kids and surge of peace to me.
When I was in junior high (called middle school in many places now), a snowfall canceled school for days. The snow was so deep and dense; the plows could not reach down to bare the roads. My sister and I walked to the Mercury movie theater for the weekend matinee. We walked down the side of Pearl Road (route 42), usually a thorough way bordered by the Southland shopping center. The road was still snow-covered, and on either side were mountains of snow. It was like we were the only kids, the only people around.
We lived on a half-acre of land. I would spend time in the backyard with my cocker spaniel Angel trudging through the snow to make trails. To me then, it seemed late because it was dark. But now, I realize it was probably early evening, Angel and I would walk those trails and fantasize about wagon trains, pioneering, and just loving the quiet. (By the way, Wagon Train and Daniel Boone were big romanticized television shows at the time.) Snow angels and huge snowmen (with Dad’s help) were so much fun.
Memories like these are my wish to everyone. We, in C-bus, are supposed to have the first snow today. To my former teaching colleagues, I wish you a few snow days (not too many to add to the school year). To ski buffs, I hope you have deep fluffy snow. To the lovely people who plow the roads, I wish you overtime. To the rest of us, open and ice clear roads.
Wishing you SunShine.
Sandy