Didn’t we just have a snowpocalypse?
We’re having exactly the kind of winter I would have adored as a little girl. Snow day upon snow day, the whole world turning magically into a hill to climb then slide down at high speed.
Snow as an adult is different. Mostly we have to go on with our regular lives but with more inconveniences, more things taking more time, more cold wet piles of clothes and shoes to deal with at the end of the day. And I don’t even have to juggle children and the difficulties that arise when schools are closed but work is not.
Snow like we had today is like kid-snow. There’s nothing to do about it while it’s falling. As soon as it’s over it’s about digging out, scraping off, checking the roads and assessing the risk, but while it’s falling – no. While it’s falling, we can watch. If we’re lucky, we can watch inside where it’s warm, and where we have enough to eat and drink. We can slow down and do nothing. It’s okay. It is, in fact, fully sanctioned.
I was going to do my taxes today, but instead I went for a walk. It’s an okay to do nothing day. I hope you had one too.
Sunset and the road home.
February 6, 2010
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Jen · 
4 Comments
Tags: snow · Posted in: Uncategorized
4 Responses
What a lovely observation. I left Chicago recently, and there’s no snow where I am now. There’s really nothing as beautiful or peaceful as falling snow.
Yes, exactly. While it is still falling, you can do nothing – play cards, read books, make Valentines. OK, I shoveled a lot today, but I also made snow angels. I have to remember to do some of this stuff without the 2 feet of snow now.
Annie, thanks! The aftermath can be trying, but while it’s happening, it can really work wonders.
Megan, yeah. It’s remembering to take this kind of time sometimes even without a record-breaking winter. The back-breaking work of shoveling out on Sunday was also kind of focusing for me – absolutely nothing demanded of me but this one task.
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