Imagine if you will never having seen a snowflake fall. Though I cannot speak from experience, I believe the wonderment of snow fades after the first few encounters. Coming from the sunny state of California, we break out the scarves at the chilly 55 degrees. In one week, I will be eighteen years old and I made my first snow angel this morning. My roommate, somewhat bewildered at my ignorance to all things snow-related, taught me some of the finer points of snow etiquette. For example, I never would have known that you can write in snow with your feet. When she told me we should write something, I took my gloved finger and began to draw. After she got over her initial deep bellied chuckle, she explained that one writes with one's feet in order to save time. I shrugged my shoulders and proceeded to write with my feet.
I am told that the thrill of snow will not last me through an entire Chicago winter, but I highly doubt this assertion. Perhaps by March I will wish for sun again, but at the moment, I am having a ball. I'm sure the vast majority of people are glad that they do not have to room with me, as my wonderment began at approximately 6:00 this morning. Through muttered claims that I have completely lost my mind, my roommate got her boots, scarf, etc. on and joined me for a good hour of play time. I looked in awe at the snow covered trees and buildings, not knowing that this was, indeed, reality.
Those of you who have lived in this all your life have been making fun of me since the day it broke 45 degrees. I have been told that the lack of leaves on trees was just a conspiracy perpetuated by midwesterners. Let us take a moment to remember that I have absolutely no way of knowing anything about a winter. So forgive me if my snowballs are less than perfect. Excuse my haphazard snowmen. Attempt to hide your laughter when you seen a fully grown woman attempting to catch a snowflake on her tongue. I do not know what it feels like to be in temperatures below zero. I have never seen a blizzard on more than the news. I haven't a clue as to what frostbite looks like or feels like. I am, for lack of a better expression, clueless.
Understand one other thing about snow that people often forget once they reach the ripe age of ten. Every snowflake is different and beautiful. I was convinced that the shape of a snowflake was nothing more than the artistic vision of children's illustrators. When I saw that snowflakes were tiny, I was truly in shock. I thought that these flakes were, indeed, the size of a piece of paper. Imagine my surprise to see these gorgeous creations covering my new winter coat. This winter, please take a moment to appreciate the beauty of snow and the glory of winter. Yes, the weather outside is frightful, and I'm sure the fire is delightful, but imagine your life without this yearly puzzlement.
Ok, it has now been more than one winter since I wrote this lovely bit of prose and my attitude has changed just a bit.
The first snowfall of the year is still quite majestic - particularly before it has been plowed. Thereafter, not so much. Granted - I only had to shovel a driveway in the winter of 2004, but that was definitely enough for me to realize - snow is very cool for kids - not so much for those of us who have to drive/live/work. I am most definitively not in love with brushing snow and ice off of my car, nor the sudden decrease in parking spots. I keep telling myself I'm going to move somewhere with a covered garage - but we all know that hasn't happened yet and isn't looking promising in the near future. I built a few snow-creatures in 2001/2002, and again this past December (2010). I realize why I waited nine years and it's likely I'll be waiting another nine.
Children are inherently better suited to making snowmen/women/dogs/what have you, as they are short, and therefore closer to the ground. Those snow creatures need to have a base and body, and that starts at the ground - in other words - work those quads or it's going to hurt. Additionally, it takes a ridiculous amount of snow to make a snowman, and that is not always readily available. When it comes to the final shaping/perfecting, it is important to remember that snowflakes are tiny and fragile. It takes forever and a day to get that snow to pack and half a second for it to disintegrate into useless piles of powder. Have patience, wear layers, and ignore the pointing and staring at a grown woman frolicking in the snow.
One final thing - a few weeks ago, Chicago had a massive blizzard. Numbers vary from city to city, but I believe my current residence got 19 inches of snow - in less than a day. Yes kids, it snowed a toddler. I saw snow drifts as tall as I am - but I'm somewhat vertically challenged, so extrapolate what you will. While getting my car towed (in an unrelated incident), I learned that the city of Chicago gets 18 foot trucks to pick up the snow and take it to the nearest empty field - Gary, Indiana - you've been warned.
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