Okay…. I’ll just get this out there now: snow is no big deal to me. I was born and raised in Minnesota, and went to college in Duluth. Snow? Been there, done that. All the blizzards of the eighties, 1991 Halloween Blizzard, even the storm this past Christmas… I was there and still have the dirty car to prove it. It better snow at least 15 inches for me to be impressed.
But now I live in Virginia Beach. Any place with “beach” in the name does not invoke thoughts of snowmen and sledding. We rarely see snow here, and if we do, it usually doesn’t last long enough to hit the ground.
This weekend, though, we actually got snow in Virginia Beach. Maybe 6-8 inches. Not at all noteworthy by Minnesota standards, but enough to grind a metro area that doesn’t own a snowplow to a halt for days. I’ll drive 1300 miles through blizzards each Christmas to see my family, but the mere idea of Virginia drivers in snow will keep me at home.
With all this time at home, it reminded me of my long-held theory of snow: Snow is like alcohol.
There’s nothing really spiritual or edifying about this theory, but I’ll share it anyway! Here are my reasons why I think snow is like alcohol:
1) Snow makes everything prettier. When the sun comes up and the snow melts, you may be in for a rude awakening, but a snow-covered city is anything short of magical and everything seems more beautiful than it really is.
2) Snow makes you feel more peaceful. Snow muffles everything. Snow keeps folks off the road, and quiets the traffic and other noise that is still out there. Everything slows down and gets softer. When life gets hectic and stressful, a nice little snowfall is an oasis of peace.
3) Too much snow can impair driving and mobility. It is not unusual to see people driving poorly and falling down in snow. Enough said.
4) Snow lowers inhibitions and brings out the playful side of people. Especially in an area that doesn’t get snow often, snow brings out the the playful side of people. Grown adults who never otherwise “play” will find themselves throwing snowballs, building snowmen and careening down hills on pieces of cardboard crashing into total strangers. Snow draws people out of their houses and gets them interacting with one another in ways they never normally would.
5) Moderation is the key. A little snow is wonderful. Too much snow makes life awful. For everyone.
So there you have it. While I’m neither a lover of blizzards or an advocate for drunkenness, I raise my glass to the occasional snowfall at the beach. It’s just one of the good pleasures of life.
Cheers!
I like the way you write!!