Winter

Growing up in Minnesota, winter was something I knew well. Living in Seattle, it's more like a long lost friend. Years can go by without us meeting up, unless I make some effort to go visit wherever it is.

The first time I appreciated that Minnesota winter did not exist everywhere was when I went off to college in the Boston area. There, November was cold but the snow stayed away. That's when I decided that if it was cold, there should be snow (otherwise, what is the point?). Living in Seattle, I've let that idea go. Here, snow is usually not fun. Too often, it is wet before it gets cold, and given the hills and the lack of snow experience, it can be ugly, at least if you need to go anywhere.But there are moments when you are where you need to be, and the snow comes down in big flakes and it is magical.

Two weeks ago, I was feeling like Spring was here. I was wearing a short-sleeve shirt and a fleece hoodie to go walking. Last week, it was cold. Unbelievably cold for us Seattleites, especially when the daffodils were already poking out of the ground. And then, it snowed.

Snow had been in the Saturday forecast for a week or so, but there was not a lot of confidence it would actually happen. So, it was a surprise when I looked out the window a little after 9 to see a blanket of snow on the ground. I immediately went outside to enjoy the falling snow.

It wasn't the best snow. The flakes were wet and icy, but I spent about an hour walking around, seeing how far I could throw snowballs, and taking pictures. I was cold and wet when I got back, but I slept with my blinds aligned so that I could see the snow outside. The next day, I went for a walk around the lake, before it warmed up and the snow melted. I really enjoyed that winter came to visit me and that we could spend quality time together.