I Thawed it Over (Pic of the Week)
Posted in General Thoughts, Outdoors, Photography, Pic of the Week on Jan 11th, 2008
I miss snow.
All of you living in places where you have too much of it, I know it’s hard to believe, but the cold white stuff — never the same flake twice! — is very miss-able.
Like the bodies of dying crystalline butterflies, the flakes float to the ground and silently stack themselves on fields, trees, boulders, roads, and rooftops.
When I was wee, we got snow quite a bit, it seemed. I lived roughly 60 miles northeast of Little Rock, and I recall a Thanksgiving an Easter spent building snow forts with my cousins.
I haven’t even seen a snow fort, let alone aided in its construction, since the 1980’s. I think that was the last decade I saw a white Christmas, too. That’s sad.
My brother and I would put more miles on our three-wheeler during a snow day than on any other. The powerslides, the pulling of a cousin on a sled — what fun it was, even when her scarf somehow got entangled around both her neck and the tow rope, dragging her helplessly along until the next time I glanced back to see how she was doing.
Not too well, it seemed, but she still was conscious. Good times.
I always was jealous of the northwest corner of the state, which got much more snow than we did. Then, later in life, I moved there. We saw the snow pile up higher than six inches a few times, and up to eight another. One of my favorite parts of being a reporter was cruising around in a photographer’s old-school Bronco taking pictures of kids at play.
And getting paid for it. Very little, mind you, but paid, nonetheless.
I’ve wandered from crystalline butterfly bodies to poverty. Not having an editor has its privileges.
Early one spring when we lived in northwest Arkansas, my parents came to visit. The trees were putting on leaves and the native grasses had turned green. I awoke Saturday morning to find snow falling and an inch already on the ground. Mom slept in while Shannon, Dad, and I ventured out in his truck. The pictures in this post (and this month’s banner picture) are from that trip.
The forest, painted in the lively greens of spring, was dressed in white. Birds already back from their winter migration flitted about searching for food. In an idyllic moment, I saw a bunny under a hedge, and got within a few feet before it fled.
Then the snow melted and it was not seen again until November or December.
Now, living in Texas for the past two and a half years, we have seen snow once or twice, and no more than a light dusting. I hope our son one day gets to romp in snow up to his knees. There’s nothing else like it.
Wow, that last picture is INCREDIBLE!!!!
Yeah, there are times you can have our snow… but I do enjoy it myself (it’s always better when you own a 4X4 too).
You can bring Ben up here any winter you like!!! We have a great yard for building snow forts and I think you could even build a whole slide if you have the time and energy!
There’s a nasty little part of me that wants to “boo” you for that abomination of a post title, but it’s also so delightfully cringe-worthy that I’m secretly applauding. Don’t tell anyone. Shhhh…
In about a month or so I’d be willing to give up most of the snow we have around here. But I still like it. Partly because we haven’t had a dump since before Christmas so my shoveling skills have been put on hold. I’m sort of surprised that there are any parts of Texas that get snow, because I assume that if you go far enough south in the States then it just doesn’t fall anywhere. Shows you what I know sometimes.
I agree with Dave, that last pic is really nicely done. Reminds me of that Robert Frost poem, Two Paths Diverged in a Yellow Wood. Except this is only one path, and it’s more of a green and white wood. But you get the idea.
For me, the last pic looks like Mark got to sneak through the wardrobe and take a quick snap. I’m with you on the snow envy. When I first met Lady J’s family in New England, they were all talking at the table about how crazy I was to be video taping through the front window snow falling outside. They looked at her and said, “Where did you find this guy?” Let’s all remember I’m from Florida, land of hurricanes and lightning, not snow.
It seems to me I get less snow now than in childhood as well…and I’ve moved north, not south. I miss snow days, too. I grew up in an area with lots of dangerous, winding lake roads…it didn’t take much for them to let us stay home and build snow forts. It takes conciderably more to get to stay home from work. Alas.
In agreement with everyone else…the last picture is magical. Quite the capture.
Si - Just about every state gets snow every great once in a while. Snow in Texas tends to be faint…but turns the roads into bumpercars I would assume (based on how the Texan tourists drove on the snow up in Colorado). I’ve even seen snow in Florida and have watched snow light upon the cactuses of Tucson. Odd thing weather.
All - That last picture is my favorite, too. At first I had it at the top, but then realized it fit the text better near the bottom.
Josh - Great call on the peeking through the wardrobe. About a year ago, I wouldn’t have understood that reference at all. I got the all-in-one Chronicles of Narnia tome for Christmas in 2006. I only made it through the first two or three books (in order they are printed in that book, not in the original publication order). I just couldn’t make myself stick with it. Once I go LOTR in the fantasy genre, apparently I never go back. Well, except for Hyperion, which can’t really be pigeon-holed in a genre, but contains lots of fantasy elements.
I unabashedly gawk over things that fascinate me but might seem commonplace to others. Sometimes I try to tone it down a bit, but in front of family or friends, forget about it. I’m a giddy kid.
Dave - I’ve always done fine on front-wheel-drive, but I have fond memories of Dad taking us all out in his 4WD to rescue folks who had slid off the mountainous road into town.
Amy - As soon as we can swing flights to Alberta for the family, we’ll take you up on that offer!
Simon - I guess the good thing is, the title was intentionally bad. I love to do that to people who can appreciate it.
Down here in Texas, there’s other stuff you can shovel.
Moksha - Because the University I attended had such large numbers of commuter students, we sometimes got snow days even at that level. Then, work came and shot that all to hell.
BTW - did everyone see it snowed in Baghdad today or yesterday?
The shots are awesome. The upside of living in a 4-season state is the opportunity for great pictures. I do have fond memories of sledding as a child and snowmobiling as a young adult. At this point in time, I have little use for snow. It’s work for me now: cleaning the car and the driveway, maneuvering treacherous roads, cleaning salt from the car, etc. Bah humbug.
You lost me at “I MISS SNOW”….
Hehehe.
Just kidding I like it too and I also miss it here in Atlanta! Or should I say “HOT”lanta. :)
I need a signed straw….how much? :)
Great pics Mark! That was truly a neat day!
Easter man. That snow fort/igloo was built at Easter. I think it’s like 90 at Easter here now.
I can’t believe we don’t have a picture of that architectural masterpiece. It was, for all intents and purposes, a real igloo. I remember four of us could fit in there fairly easily, and we were all stunned at how warm it was inside when we were in there. That was a really cool day that I’ll never forget.
Charles - So it was Easter, eh? Well, since I was a littler kid than you and my memories of it might not be as good, I’ll defer to you on that one. I changed it. It was one of the best times ever.
Simon hasn’t had a dump since before Christmas? Damn, that must be painful…