Snowfall

Blog 14 …

Ticklish as it drops and touches the skin, and pleasantly fresh to the eyes as soon as it adheres and then blankets the ground … snow fall, I reckon, breeds a hate it or love it feeling for many folks.   In Greensboro City, NC where I have lived the last twenty years, a light snow is a big event to be wondered at rather than complained about and later plowed.  Yet, foreign-born and grown adults like me still get excited over its arrival and get fixated at its hypnotic downpour; children bring the most intense thrill beholding it.  They can’t resist merely standing and looking.  They explode with fun-filled voices and catch snow as they drop, plan snowball fights or dream ground angel flights.  Because the event was rare and infrequent, it was always wonderful and felt as a never-ending wonderment.   The marvel sadly does die down, I should say, especially over a deep snow pour.  After all, folks are held off from travel and business for days or so, and when that happens, all get stuck in the confines of homes.  It doesn’t take long for cabin-fever to usher in.  Outside, the task of shoveling doorways and driveways become drudging; paths sprinkled with chemicals intended to melt tightly-packed snow, get way too messy and ugly!  After a few days the once immaculate snow melts and ices making treading and driving atrociously hazardous.  When town clean-up service doesn’t take place immediately, grumbling begins and anger builds.  When finally snow plows come to roadways, they push aside the immaculate sheets next to grimy, muddied ground.  After a while they become forlorn, filthy lumps that seem to gravely beg for a total mercy-melt from weather warmth and bright sunshine.   Wait for the next snow event, like a wheel that turns, again becomes a far-fetched wish for everyone whose consolation is lived-out satisfaction over weather passing, yet an impactful memory!