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The first “real” snowfall in Minnesota on January 20, 2011. Imagine that! Who would have ever guessed that it would come now, and when you think about it, not all that much either.
So how did it catch most of us off guard? Well for one thing I came County Road 27 from Fairmont, should have taken Highway 15 through Truman, at least I could have stopped and refilled the coffee cup. But, I didn’t and for awhile thought I was the snow department. The driving was interesting and I did see some who thought, it was Indy 500 flying past me. A steady forty to forty-five seemed about right for the conditions. Driving became a whole new experience this morning, one we haven’t had for some time. I remember the night of the FFA Banquet back in November, there was ice on the roads and that was the last hairy experience until now.
Another interesting thing I witnessed this morning of our first major snowfall was something called “people shoveling snow.” At first sight I asked a business owner what it was she had in her hand and what she was doing to the sidewalks. It has been so long since we have had to legitimately move snow that I had forgotten what it was like. I was told they were lined up at Tru-Value buying snow removal stuff this morning. I myself had to purchase a snowscraper, seems that one of ours disappeared along with the snow this fine“brown” winter.
What else did I observe with my two eyes, hear with my ears and feel on this wintery morning?
A cleanliness in the air and in people’s minds. The snow brought a much needed refreshing spirit to our Minnesota world. Oh, there may have been a few out there who grumbled about the inconvenience, but ones I talked to thought it was a needed change. The “brown” of winter had finally gotten to them and the white covering was refreshing.
Then there were the sounds. I was awakened at about 5:00 am by the snow plow going down my street, the sound of snow removal when I got to St. James, the scrape of ice and snow being removed from car’s windshields, and snow shovels slowly dragging across the sidewalks.
I must mention the softness of the snow as it fell on my face. I am sure you have stood in a snow storm and felt it. This first measurable snow of any duration was seemingly extra soft, maybe again because we were just not used to it in a long time. I immediately thought of the song by Julie Andrews in the movie production of “The Sound of Music.” It was entitled “My Favorite Things,” and one line went something like this, “Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, these are a few of my favorite things.” Indeed “snowflakes on eyelashes” do feel good.
Here’s one for you. Did you happen to notice the aroma from the coffee pot brewing was extra fragrant today? The hot cakes were hotter, syrup was thicker, the tea steamier and the biscuits warmer?
As human beings it seems to me that we are wired for change. That is why the majority of our people enjoy the four seasons and when one of them doesn’t take its place in the regular rotation of things, it just doesn’t seem right.
So hurrah for the return of winter! At least for a little while.
The first “real” snowfall in Minnesota on January 20, 2011. Imagine that! Who would have ever guessed that it would come now, and when you think about it, not all that much either.
So how did it catch most of us off guard? Well for one thing I came County Road 27 from Fairmont, should have taken Highway 15 through Truman, at least I could have stopped and refilled the coffee cup. But, I didn’t and for awhile thought I was the snow department. The driving was interesting and I did see some who thought, it was Indy 500 flying past me. A steady forty to forty-five seemed about right for the conditions. Driving became a whole new experience this morning, one we haven’t had for some time. I remember the night of the FFA Banquet back in November, there was ice on the roads and that was the last hairy experience until now.
Another interesting thing I witnessed this morning of our first major snowfall was something called “people shoveling snow.” At first sight I asked a business owner what it was she had in her hand and what she was doing to the sidewalks. It has been so long since we have had to legitimately move snow that I had forgotten what it was like. I was told they were lined up at Tru-Value buying snow removal stuff this morning. I myself had to purchase a snowscraper, seems that one of ours disappeared along with the snow this fine“brown” winter.
What else did I observe with my two eyes, hear with my ears and feel on this wintery morning?
A cleanliness in the air and in people’s minds. The snow brought a much needed refreshing spirit to our Minnesota world. Oh, there may have been a few out there who grumbled about the inconvenience, but ones I talked to thought it was a needed change. The “brown” of winter had finally gotten to them and the white covering was refreshing.
Then there were the sounds. I was awakened at about 5:00 am by the snow plow going down my street, the sound of snow removal when I got to St. James, the scrape of ice and snow being removed from car’s windshields, and snow shovels slowly dragging across the sidewalks.
I must mention the softness of the snow as it fell on my face. I am sure you have stood in a snow storm and felt it. This first measurable snow of any duration was seemingly extra soft, maybe again because we were just not used to it in a long time. I immediately thought of the song by Julie Andrews in the movie production of “The Sound of Music.” It was entitled “My Favorite Things,” and one line went something like this, “Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, these are a few of my favorite things.” Indeed “snowflakes on eyelashes” do feel good.
Here’s one for you. Did you happen to notice the aroma from the coffee pot brewing was extra fragrant today? The hot cakes were hotter, syrup was thicker, the tea steamier and the biscuits warmer?
As human beings it seems to me that we are wired for change. That is why the majority of our people enjoy the four seasons and when one of them doesn’t take its place in the regular rotation of things, it just doesn’t seem right.
So hurrah for the return of winter! At least for a little while.
