Snow. It’s on its way, in some places it’s settled, in some it’s already melting, here it’s falling gently but not even attempting to settle.
When did we stop seeing the magic of snow? When did we stop finding the particular kind of silence that comes from an overnight blanket of soft, cold white stuff so exciting, stop wanting to be the first to put our footprint in the pristine powdery coating, stop sticking our tongue out to catch snowflakes?
With the exception of one person who has a very good reason not to like snow, and one person who feels the same as I do, every single post on Facebook today that has mentioned snow has done so accompanied by moaning and negativity.
And for what? In a world that is more connected, more technologically advanced than ever before, a world where we carry our entire lives in a small touchscreen device in our back pockets or handbags, we worry that we may miss something in the [career cage] job. That someone might not be able to get hold of us for something “urgent” if we’re off sledging with our friends or children instead of being in the office, on the one or possibly two days a year that’s a possibility. That we might miss a deadline, miss spending some more time in front of a computer.
photo credit: Denis Collette…!!! via photopin cc
This year I want to absorb, to marvel, to appreciate – and stop my major snow whinge, which is that while it’s snowing I can’t drive my beloved Poppy. She makes me sparkle all year round – and there is something undeniably otherworldly and, yes, magical, about a world rendered almost unrecognisable by fleeting, soft, white fluff. It won’t hurt her or me to leave her parked up safely for a few days and walk – and the snow could be gone within hours.
So provided your family and friends are safe – let go of the worrying, stop the whinging, and start experiencing and enjoying the snow. Feel the powder turn to slush as you jump on it, relish the cold and the colour in your cheeks, be generous with your sledge if you have one and engage random passers by in snowball fights. You only live once, after all… and those emails will wait. I promise!
photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar via photopin cc
I think it comes down to where you grew up. Lots of my urban/town bred friends love snow, whereas those who have grown up in rural areas see it as much more of a pain. When your 7 miles drive from a shop it’s a bit more of a pain than if the there’s a shop within walking distance.
In the last heavy winter of 2010-2011 I ended up having to drive with my dad to a fuel depot 4o miles away as our heating oil delivery couldn’t get through. Driving through thick snow with 4-5 25 litre drums in the car kinda takes the gloss off snow…
I would completely agree – when I lived in Wickham Bishops I couldn’t leave the house for four days, partly because the snow and ice was immense, and partly because it’s as countryside as Essex gets and we were miles from the nearest shop, and it was frankly dangerous to drive.
However, you’re not among the people that whine needlessly about the snow and where you live is definitely rural so any moans are excused 😉
Question! Is my whinge legitimate?
The snow on our estate is now frozen ice but the main roads around are fine so we are still expected at work (nothing would make me happier than missing a day filled with all the aforementioned emails, etc). I wrote my car off 2 years ago in a similar situation when my brakes failed but I still have to get to work and I’m not on a public transport route. It makes me nervous as hell TBH, the only blessing is I bought new tyres just before Christmas.
So am I allowed to moan please? 🙂
Yes, absolutely! Like Rhydian your moan is credible and has a point behind it, and the snow is actually causing you issues, and given half a chance and the ability not to be at work, you’d be out there with a sledge and Fletcher!
This post was written with the people who moan pointlessly in mind… the ones for whom it’s not actually an inconvenience but an excuse to jump on the bandwagon of negativity 🙂