The Promise of Snow
In the days of my childhood when the skies dipped low, when the clouds turned grey-clustered and crowded as flocks, when the air lost its lightness and slid down the lungs like ice water, my Father would look up, eyes gleaming, and say, “It feels like snow”. And it always seemed, just like that, it would happen - tumbling, falling, white over white, snow would fall in blankets and drifts - till all the world was changed.
Schools would close. Fires would blaze. Soups would simmer.
These days we have meteorologists. Learned men and women who stare pie-eyed from our television screens as they warn us of weather, employing adjectives normally reserved for war in their rabid desire to be heard. Snow is no longer fun; it is “disaster”. We no longer see the “promise” of snow, but the “threat.”
Being Southerners, we are ill-prepared for snow. We rarely see it, and when we do, we are prone to slip and slide in our cars without chains on the tires; we run into one another on our hilly roads, veer off into ditches, get stuck inside drifts. So at the first fearsome warning we rush to clear supermarkets of anything edible and hunker down for the siege that usually never occurs. We find ourselves in this situation today. Warned of white peril and reminded of past failures, our schools have closed. The mad rush to the market happened last night. I doubt there remains a loaf of bread to be found in the county. The fire is blazing. The soup is simmering. And here we sit, watching it drizzle. Am I the only one disappointed?
Does anyone still thrill at the hint of a snowfall? Do children still sit at windows and wait for that old unique magic drifting down from the skies? Do little girls still play inside frosted castles that were hours before only cedars and hemlocks? From my friends in Boston, I know there is such a thing as too much snow. But today as I pull on my boots and head out for a walk in the cold with Edward, I cannot help but look up and wish the skies were a wee bit lower, the air a tiny bit heavier.
I wish I look hear my Father say, “It looks like snow”.
A few years back.....
I like the mood of your photo of the window with the greyness and the wetness. It does not snow where I live but if they predicted snow I would be very excited. I like the whiteness of snow but I like our temperate climate even more :)
ReplyDeletePamela, it is true,as children my siblings and I were always so excited for snow and to go out and play in it, make a snowman! There IS snow on the ground here, though it has not been a winter as difficult as on the east coast. I also admit I would rather not be out driving in it!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
As a lifelong resident of North Carolina, I share your joy and excitement in the promise of snow. Even when I had to go out to work regardless, I still was overjoyed at seeing flakes fall. And since my husband was a teacher, he never got over the childhood habit of praying for snow. Now that I'm a full time resident (since July) of the mountains and camped in our eerie at 4000 feet, I've expected more snow, and, since we're retired, don't worry about having to get out and about in it. We stocked up on our supplies well in advance. But alas, we've only had a few dustings all season, and we were hoping this time we'd have a real measurable snow. As I look out the window, the earlier fluffy flakes have been replaced by something that suspiciously looks like rain but are actually ice pellets. It's 20 degrees. In my mind, if it's that cold, it's supposed to be snow. But according to the meteorologists, the air aloft is warmer. That means we're headed for the dreaded freezing rain - the nastiest and most dangerous to our roads, trees, and power lines. Ugh. Is one decent snow too much to ask for up here? However, I do feel for the folks up in New England, though I find it hard to imagine that much snow. Yes, I keep glancing out the window at the leaden skies that hide the mountains, watch the birds at the feeder, and feel deprived and disappointed at the precipitation that is falling and clearly is not snow.
ReplyDeleteI also relish the memories of my father saying "there's a northern coming". And teaching me cloud names like "mare's tales". Always showing me how to be in touch with nature myself. So I've stopped watching and reading the news, content in my own connection with all the wonders of nature. And somehow this connection also makes it possible for me to remember my childhood excitement.
ReplyDeleteNot disappointed here at all. One reason I moved to GA from NC many moons ago was to avoid the possibility of having to slip and to slide to work. I once skidded across black ice in my little '65 Beetle and I never wanted to go through that experience again. I should mention that the Beetle was a fun drive in snow, so long was you didn't get stalled behind someone who didn't know how to drive on snow. The only way I delight in seeing it snow is if I'm indoors where it's warm, with a good book and something hot to drink. :-)
ReplyDeleteMake that our 'eyrie' at 4000 feet. Oops!
ReplyDeleteOh, Pam, what a great article! Yes, there are some of us out here that still enjoy a good old-fashioned snowstorm. We live in Vermont, and we have about 18" on the ground now. Vermont comes alive in the snow! The skiers are excited to get out of work and usually feign sickness on Fridays to head to the slopes. The shops are busy with people expanding their winter sporting goods, sales are up, and people are generally happy to see the snow. It's good for business here, the ski resorts, restaurants, shops, etc. Vermont is an exceptionally beautiful state, blessed with a natural beauty like nowhere else I've ever seen. We have a no billboards law, and so our interstates, the few we have, are very scenic. Your article made me smile when you said "...and here we sit, and watch it drizzle." I hope for you that you do get to see the snow in all it's glory, equally as beautiful as any summer day. But, I also ask you all to stay safe, because it can be dangerous, and the south isn't equipped for it. So, enjoy, but be cautious!
ReplyDeleteYes, in spite of myself and this colder climate near The Windy City where I reside,y es; I still thrill at the scent of snow in the air. We have an eyebrow window in our bedroom. There, from the second floor, late at night, there is nothing like seeing big flakes of snow dipping and sliding and grasping each other as they waltz me to sleep.
ReplyDeleteOh yes! I long for snow every year, but we rarely get any. I grew up in northern BC and loved the scent in the air when snow was about to fall. The heavy skies were a promise of transformation. Here on Vancouver Island snow falls seldom. I was looking at some photos last night from 2006 when we had a good 10 inches or so on our back deck. There's still time....
ReplyDeleteYou've captured the delight and anticipation of a snowfall so well.
Here in Ontario (near the Quebec border) I think many are thrilled with the snow. There's nothing like sitting next to the fire, sipping wine, watching the snow drift down at night. It's such an opportunity to skate, snow shoe and well...shovel, too!
ReplyDeleteIt's sleeting here in Raleigh, a bitter cold night and everything covered in a thin layer of ice. All we pray is that the power stays on - being without heat is not fun when older, and hauling in firewood from the now ice rink deck is dangerous. A big heavy fall of fluffy snow I would love - I've been hoping it would come at least once before the season is over - but this stuff is nothing but cruel and miserable.
ReplyDeleteStay toasty warm Pamela - we still have a few more weeks to perhaps say, "It feels like snow", and it will, yippee!
Hugs - Mary
Grumpy all day yesterday that we didn't get snow! Yes, like you, I think it magical and I love the warm cocoon feeling of watching it fall whilst inside with good warm things to eat and drink. It rather puts things in suspended animation, luxuriously slowing us down.
ReplyDeleteI must say that I love the magic of snow from the inside of the window, with a great log fire burning and nothing much to do. But outside in a cutting wind when it is slippery underfoot I find myself thinking that Spring just can't come soon enough.
ReplyDeleteFrom my childhood it was, "it smells like snow." Something that never happens where I live now in Provence but oh how I still do long for that magical moment when the rain crystallized and everything, everything is transformed!
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a beautiful post.
We've got some lovely snow here in Virginia, and are enjoying the day off from work as well. With the beautiful view out the window, a fire in the fireplace, warm comfort food to eat and good books to read, I just don't understand why people hate winter.
ReplyDeleteWe've got some lovely snow here in Virginia, and are enjoying the day off from work as well. With the beautiful view out the window, a fire in the fireplace, warm comfort food to eat and good books to read, I just don't understand why people hate winter.
ReplyDeletethe weather person brings gloom & doom + my father use to bring excitement + that is the difference + wish I could hear him. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteI know from watching the news each evening that so many areas have gotten more than their share of snow, so I don't dare say I would wish for snow. But as a Southern California, currently in a severe drought, I'd be thankful for drizzle. Our local weather people make rain sound like the threat of hurricane, when the most we get is a few inches. It cracks me up when the words "Storm Watch" appear on the screen.
ReplyDeleteStill, at least you're ready for the weather and it sounds like a perfectly lovely afternoon and evening ahead of you and family.
xo,
Karen
Oh no.... I am a winter person and love to hear the words snow. We are into our second day of being iced in. Though I prefer snow, I am happy to be forced to stay in and forage the pantry and freezer for dinner. I hope you see snow soon. B.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post! I love snow, and we have a pretty blanket of it right now in Virginia. I do make sure to keep the bird feeders full when it snows, so that the birds will make it through. xo, N.
ReplyDeleteYou capture the snow magic so well! I come from a family skiers with winter holidays and my kids have picked that up from me. We love fresh snow but dread the wintery mix. My only complaint is shoveling when the piles get too high. My daughter and I are going for a ski now in the sun before the next storm drops another half foot. My favorite winters alternate days of bright sun with light snow to keep everything fresh. These days we get a text message for a snow day but it is just exciting for my daughter.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I am like you. I get a thrill over snow. Living in Los Angeles, that thrill never occurs. But when I travel to the east coast or go to Vermont, I am enchanted by a winter wonderland. Probably comes from growing up in Pennsylvania and spending my teenage and college years in New England! I could enjoy it without any real responsibility. We do have to meet one day as we are truly kindred spirits! xx
ReplyDeleteHey keep posting such good and meaningful articles.
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