Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Snow is...


It snowed here this week. The last time that happened was 1976. This may help you understand my interesting relationship with snow. Below is my (somewhat tongue and cheek) description of what snow is to me.

...SURPRISING

Snow, when first experienced, is surprising.

Snow fall is silent.

Fluffy white snow is not fluffy. It is cold and wet. That "snow angel" thing could cause pneumonia.

...WORK

Snow is kind of a pain in the hiney.

In places where it snows a lot, people have to plug their cars in. Not new fangled electric cars. Just their boring old Dodge Dart or whatever. To keep it warm. Like an electric blanket. So it won't freeze and crack. The guy who invented this should be rich.

Snow buries things. You park your car, you go to bed, it snows, you wake up and where your car used to be there is now a heap of snow. You have to dig it out. With a shovel. But not until you dig a path from your front door to the street. And, I'm guessing it is cold out there. Good times.

...SCARY


Snow is scary.

I have cousins who lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, but returned to New Orleans. We suggested that they re-locate out here in California, but they declined. They didn't want to live anywhere there were earthquakes. Too dangerous. Huh? I have a similar feeling about snow.

Several years ago, in the mountains around here, (where I will only go in July and August), a man got lost hunting in the snow. He was found safe and sound, but he couldn't get his truck back until spring. Spring? Really?

A friend of mine who used to live in Missouri tells stories of driving, or rather sliding, the wrong way down the interstate into the path of a big rig because of snow and ice. People live like this? No thank you.

And these are just the stories without tragic endings. I am still haunted by several took-the-scenic-route-and-got-caught-in-a-freak-snow-storm stories. They did not end so well. I will leave it at that.


...INSIDIOUS

Snow is insidious.

Unlike other forces of nature, snow has some how passed itself off as beautiful and nostalgic. No one dreams of a Charred Christmas. Or sings, "Let it flood, let it flood, let it flood." Volcanic ash that stays on your nose and eye lashes? Not romantic. But, snow, obnoxious snow, has managed to charm it's way into our collective consciousness. Well...your collective consciousness. I'm not fooled.

You can keep the real stuff. I will be dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the ones I used to watch on TV. Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, singing, dancing, fake snow as far as the eye can see. I have the DVD now, which is even better. White Christmas; no commercials.

Come Join Us at THEME THURSDAY!

9 comments:

  1. Whoa! First snow since 1976?! Wow! Can you say snowball fight?! :D hee

    Love your post. Happy TT.

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  2. it sure feels like it has been that long since it snowed...i imagine th kids were loving it! a little of the insidious side of snow in the post as well...i love it! happy tt!

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  3. It does have its positive and negative points. But then again, doesn't everything?

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  4. I too have, er, mixed feelings about snow...I'm very worried about having to dig my car out...although it's hardly snowed a bit in Brooklyn over the last few years!

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  5. snow can be scary...especially when you have three children out driving in it...last year they had 2 accidents involving snow and ice...you are smart to avoid it.

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  6. Many things are both beautiful and deadly, meant to be seen from a distance. But snow, well controlled, is wonderful (when viewed from the inside in front of a roaring fire) Happy TT

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  7. Cool observations (pun intended) I must admit I prefer to look at it than be out in it!

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  8. Well, I;d say it's jsut as well it only comes when it does then for you. YEs in places wher eit can be wetter snow and ca quite scary to but you have to admit it is so beautiful too--even if deceptive in its allure.

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