Snow began falling around 8:00 a.m. today. The forecast predicted a trace to one inch, but it snowed all day, and four fluffy inches covered the ground, roads, trees, and cars. Snow can be that way, making weather forecasters look foolish.
This isn’t the first snow of the year, but today’s snow has a good chance of staying on the ground, making it a white Christmas. That’s why I call it the first real snow of the year.
I loved snow as a child, and I haven’t grown old enough yet to resent or fear it. The first real snowfall of the year evokes childhood memories of snowballs, snowmen, snow forts, and sledding. Swaddled in snow pants, jackets, hats, scarves, and mittens, our joyful shouts, squeals, and laughter bounced off the trees and houses.
I love to walk my dogs, Ziva and Cabela, in the evening after a fresh snowfall when the air is still. My dogs love the first real snow too. They prance. They stuff their noses in the snow, tossing it in the air or eating it. Sometimes the snow tickles their noses, and they sneeze. Even Cabela, who’s now fourteen-and-a-half, becomes youthful. When they were puppies, the first snowfall of the year gave them the crazies. They pounced and dashed and rolled in it, creating doggie snow angels. They reminded me of a gaggle of children unleashed into the first good snow of the year.
Perhaps snow sparks something primal in my dogs and myself, something that lights up ancient places in our brains, something that is more complex than our happy memories of youthful frolics in the snow.
Writing Near the Lake 
We got our first 4” today. It’s pretty but I don’t want to walk in it. Too scared of falling on my new hip!
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I don’t blame you for worrying about your new hip. I hope you’re doing well.
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We got about seven inches at our house yesterday after an all-day gorgeous snowfall. I agree that snow sparks something inside us, something magical and joyous. I love the first substantial snowfall of the season.
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I light up whenever I see another post from you. Thank you. I feel the same way about the first fresh snowfall. It’s tainted now by worries about my adult children who often drive in it before it’s adequately cleared away. One young couple hand off their little boy due to their different work schedules. Makes me wish everyone still worked only from home.
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Thank you so much for your kind words about my blog. I do worry about my adult children commuting to and from work too.
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I love the snow when it’s fresh but here in NY it becomes a mess if it hangs around too long.
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Yeah, snow isn’t pretty when it’s dirty.
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My dog used to love snow, too. He’d get the crazies not only when he was a puppy, but all the time. I still miss his joy.
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I enjoyed reading about your dog in your essays. He was special.
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I love snow too! Still waiting for my first snowfall here though. Thursday’s forecast is a maybe. *fingers crossed*
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