The quiet that succumbs the earth when snowflakes scatter down is unparalleled. The fresh smell of anticipated snow is palpable not only in the nose but on the tongue. There’s a sprinkle of magic in the snow. It’s a rare event in South Carolina and the snow we got was much anticipated by most of us.
I think you can tell quite a lot about a person by the way they approach weather. There are those who revel in the changing of Mother Nature day to day taking in stride what She decides is on the table for that particular day. And there are those who grumble at each minor “inconvenience” thrown. As I dropped off Tegan at school on the the eve of anticipated snow, Tegan and I were abuzz with the excitement and all around us I heard adults complaining: “This better be worth the day off of school”. I felt a bit disappointed, at what age do we lose the enjoyment of life? Not one kid was upset about possible snow. Adults were too wrapped up in what needed to get done rather than actually flowing with life. And I get it, we all have jobs to do, timelines to follow, pressures put on us, families to support, but, if we can’t enjoy the random snow day with our kids that happens about once a decade in South Carolina, what exactly are we living for? When exactly will people begin to enjoy? What is that future date they have on their calendar?
As a kid growing up in Idaho I remember the feeling of waking up and looking out the window to a fresh blanket of fresh, glittering snow and feeling a well of excitement rising from my stomach to my heart. I couldn’t get out the door fast enough, spent all day outside in the snow, and then was ravishing at dinner time. I would then always fall asleep in that glorious glow of exhaustion from being out in the fresh, cold air working my body all day in play. I channeled that younger me and saw the snow day through the eyes of my girls and geared up for a fun day of play. Nick also has a childlike love of snow and I love that about him.Tegan did get up early, Rory’s eyes did light up when we pulled up the curtains and we DID thoroughly enjoy the snow day. We got about 2 inches of snow, we used our sand toys to build snow castles, we used our boogie boards to sled, and we did snow angels and built tiny snowmen. The entire community was out. Kids and adults alike were creative and frolicking throughout the park. All. Day. Long. And it was magic to see everyone out, about, and playful. I hope some of them were the ones grumbling the day previously. One of Tegan’s friend’s parents even mentioned telling his job he wasn’t working remotely that day because he needed to play in the snow with his 6 year old. YES. Because this is life and when life throws you magic, you must engage.
I made homemade chicken meatball noodle soup (Smitten Kitchen recipes are always gold!) and homemade sour cream and chive yeast rolls to warm our bellies (I’m a real homemaker now- ha- and I love it!). We all took deliciously enjoyable baths and got cozy. Dreaming and drooling at the end of a beautiful day.
But why is the magic always lost on day two? “Nothing gold can last Mrs. B.!”.
We woke up to snow still on the ground, which is not usual here—its been cold!, and a chillier day. The snow is more like ice and it’s overcast. Everyone is a bit tired, gloomier, a bookend to maybe too much a beautiful day. The magic is gone, winter continues.
But it was such a nice glimpse.
And still we embrace the quiet of the day, but the park is quieter. Everyone is hibernating. The kids tried to play but came back in, the ice doesn’t lend itself well to play.
It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
It is better to have snowed then iced, then never to have snowed at all.
And we can channel the beauty of the memory of our snowfall and the girls will reflect on it as they get older. And our play with them in the snow will be the story they tell “Mom and dad were out on the boogie board with us!” And “remember mom’s soup and yeast rolls?!”. The glow from the day remains.
There is sparkles in those curveballs that Mother Nature throws. And though the kids are now home with us for a whole week (!) I’m embracing the time I get with them, in the weather I get with them.
Because that’s all there is. Blink and I’ll miss it.
Yelps of glee
Racing to the window
And through the snow
Something new
Shiny new
Dulls over time
So must enjoy the now.
Snow magic reminds us it won’t last.
Don’t blink.



I had to escape snow and ice asap and did so in 96. Thanks for the memories!!