SNOW DAYS

I am a kid at heart—I always will be. I get giddy about snow like a fish looking for water. First, it’s the anticipation. Next, it’s the first flurries. Then, the accumulation on the ground is the pinnacle of excitement.

I vaguely remember snow happening in South Georgia when I grew up. There were flurries and dustings, but nothing like what happened a few weeks ago in the southeast corner of Georgia. I was so excited for the kids and adults who finally got to play in the same mixtures as the characters in the books I read about as a child. They got to experience Frosty and snow forts for real! I hope this snow experience will be ingrained in their minds for a long time.

Every kid wishes for that beautiful white fluff to fall on their yard. Especially at Christmas when Bing Crosby sings “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” on the local radio. The reality of this happening never squelched my desire to experience this phenomenon.

After college, I moved to Atlanta and thought to myself, “ I can’t wait to experience snow this winter.” I found out that snow was an infrequent occurrence, and we rarely got snowy days. So when the flurries came, the original lesson plans went out the window. I had my students put on their coats as I passed out the magnifying glasses with a square of black paper to catch and view the unique shapes of snowflakes falling outside. I introduced them to Snowflake Bentley, a wonderful book by Jacqueline Biggs Martin. In this picture book, Martin tells the journey of  Wilson Bentley, a boy in Vermont who dedicated his life to photographing the uniqueness of snowflakes. My philosophy was to embrace the learning moment.

I was so excited when I  met my husband from Western New York. (Go Bills) Yes! I will go snow skiing. I came to find out that he didn’t ski but rode snowmobiles. That was a letdown but not a game-changer. I got to experience some beautiful snowy landscapes and snow tubing.

When I first visited Joe’s family in Attica, NY, it was cold, and the snow had melted. The dirt and debris mixed with the once beautiful white drifts were not pretty. This picture was not what I had imagined. What was so special about this slush?   I had my winter coat, hat, and gloves. His dad asked if I had just bought a winter coat for the visit. Joe assured him that it did get cold in Atlanta.

I remember calling my teenage niece and telling her it was snowing and since I’d never driven in the snow, what should I do? She laughed and said, “It’s not even on the ground yet. There’s no ice on the roads. Just drive home as usual.” We still laugh about that.

Snowfall is exhilarating to me! I’m all about going outside and building a snowman, sticking my tongue out to catch a flake or two, making snow angels, sledding down a hill, or just relishing in the peacefulness of it all.

As much as I love snow, I don’t like the ice that comes with it. Sure, it’s magical to see ice glistening in the trees. The aftermath of the beauty that we enjoy involves a lot of hardships. Stay off the roads! Ice on the bridges, overpasses, and hills makes driving difficult. Power outages due to fallen lines or frozen pipes can harm hospitals, nursing homes, homeowners, and other facilities. Damage to crops, animals, and other businesses may take weeks, months, or years to recuperate.

I still love snow! But I’m prepared. I wear base layers in temperatures under fifty-five degrees. I have gloves in the pockets of all my winter coats. Snow clothes are good in the cold or snow. My friends laugh at my long winter coat—but I’m not cold. I figured buying my kids snow bibs/suits at a consignment shop each year was like insurance. We were always ready if it snowed. If it didn’t, we were out twenty dollars. Just like car insurance, you hate paying the premiums but are thankful you have it when you actually need it.

Let it snow. I’m ready.

Please don’t laugh at us Southerners. We’re just enjoying the postcard weather. Just Saying.

I would love to hear about your snow experiences. Please leave a reply below.