“I miss the snow. I miss looking at it, walking in it, tasting it. I used to love those days when it was so cold everyone else would be tucked away inside trying to stay warm. I would be the only one out walking, so I could look across the fields and see miles of snow without a single footprint in it. It would be completely silent – no cars, no birds singing, no doors slamming. Just silence and snow.” – Damien Echols
Can you feel the silence and see the beauty of Damien Echols’ description of a pristine snow fall? I can.
Today, the weather forecast is calling for 18 to 24 inches of snow. I’m longing for this snowfall, along with it’s tranquility and quiet peace. This pending snow storm is stirring something within me. I’m feeling excitement and anticipation. This storm is triggering childhood memories, oh so many memories.
“Snow provokes responses that reach back to childhood. “ – Andy Goldsworthdy
I feel as though I’ve just taken a walk back in time. Decades ago a major snow storm hit New York City, the area was paralyzed. The snow storm wreaked havoc on businesses and caused the city to stand still.
For my family, this snow storm was a reprieve from the hustle and bustle and a chance to reconnect with the simplicities of life. The city turned into a Winter Wonderland.
“Snow makes cities innocent again, reveals the frailty of the human gesture against the void. ” – Glen Duncan
Vivid, beautiful memories of absolutely pure, unending pleasure almost seem to transport me back in time. The walls of our little home could not contain my brother’s or my excitement or jubilation.
“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together. ” – Vista M. Kelly
An expectancy filled our home. The morning after the snow fall was serene. My father, with shovel in hand, walked outside. I followed and was shocked to be hit with the sound of nothingness. We lived on a busy two way street. How on earth could it be so quiet?
“Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity.” – Novala Takemoto
The silence overwhelmed me. I remember looking around in wonder. No cars were on the road, they couldn’t get through the snow, I was in awe of the peacefulness. All blanketed in white, sparkling and new. Such wonder, such a gift.
“The snow is sparkling like a million little suns.” – Lama Willa Miller
Everyone had to stay home, the roads were closed. This snow storm brought everyone out. I could see other fathers and a few kids emerging with their shovels.
While my dad shoveled the front of the house, my brother and I played in the backyard. We stood on the picnic table and just needed to fall backwards to make snow angels. Just so much snow. There’s no better feeling than launching yourself from a picnic table and being swallowed up by a soft blanket of snow. Just thrilling.
“A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky – unbidden – and seems like a thing of wonder. ” – Susan Orlean
By the time dad finished clearing the sidewalk, the alley and digging a path to the car, our friends were all out and about. We climbed up a huge mound of snow our fathers had piled high and carved a huge chair of snow. I have no idea what possessed us to make a chair but we did and each of us climbed up to sit in it. A separate mound was enough for us to climb and slide down. It was perfect.
“Silently, like thoughts that come and go, the snowflakes fall, each one a gem.” – William Hamilton Gibson
Chris, our neighbor, came out with his dog, Buddy. Buddy was huge, he’d drag us around when we held his leash. Well, him pulling us on the sled was even better. He just took off and I remember flying down the street. No cars on the streets, just heaven.
“With every falling flake, a unique spark of interest falls from heaven.” – P. Miller
The entrance way to our community drive that led to all our backyards was around the corner. Because the entrance way sloped down into a hill, it was perfect for sleigh riding. We spent hours there sleigh riding with what seemed like the whole neighborhood.
I headed home a few times because my pants were soaked. When I ran out of dry pants, my dad had to come up with a solution. Mom was sleeping; he was in charge.
We had no dryer, we hung clothes to dry. I didn’t have many pants, I wore dresses to school every day. Dad’s solution, line my pants with Wonder bread bags to keep my skin dry. This was fine by me, nothing was going to keep me from that snow. Off I flew, back to the hill.
Once it was dark, we headed home. The snow lit the way.
My mother had woken and dinner was on the table. My brother and I missed their calls to come home. I laugh today and wonder, was it realistic for them to think we were going to hear their voices around the corner when we were all screaming and having a blast with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood? I know they were loud, but really.
The fun didn’t end that day, travel was limited and everything remained closed up. Our neighbor, Angelo asked my father to join their family at the park for sleigh riding. This unplanned spontaneous day is one of my most memorable days. I don’t know that I ever saw my parents happier.
Not only the six kids but also our parents had a blast sleigh riding. We used my brother’s sled. My plastic sled was used sparingly. Unless you piled 4 of us in the sled, it just wouldn’t fly.
My mom made thermos of hot chocolate and Angelo brought the adults champagne. This was bliss. It was simplistic, it was wonderful.
“The wonder of a single snowflake outweighs the wisdom of a million meteorologists.” – unknown
I wish I could bring back the ambiance and the peaceful reprieve to the hustle and bustle and the joy. Maybe this snow storm will bring the opportunity. The forecast is now saying up to 24 inches of snow and a couple of areas, our area included, may see 36 inches headed our way. I think I’ll dream and will this to be so.“