Snow

Have you ever seen a snowflake?

I mean, of course we've all seen snow, but have you really taken a moment to look at the fine details of each individual flake?

My first “sighting” was actually only a few years ago while outside in my black wool coat. I look at my arm for some odd reason and then saw them. The snowflakes were beautiful. Each one was a tiny, brittle crystal with six perfectly symmetrical arms. It was one of those moments where you realize “What else have I been overlooking?”

That particular incident resurfaced in my mind earlier today when I saw the same type of snowflake while taking advantage of the snow day a giant nor’easter gave us. I was standing outside waiting for my skis to cool off (warm skis can make snow clump up on the bottom and mine had been in the house) when I noticed something in my hair out of the corner of my eye. I looked closer and saw those tiny snowflakes. I took a few pictures with my camera, and then got to the skiing.

Now, I hadn’t been skiing since the beginning of February last year, so I was pretty proud of myself that I didn’t fall until after a few hours had passed. The best part of the day I think was being able to ski on the Pipeline that’s little bit down the road from us. I’ll admit we didn’t ski the super-steep part, only the cleared area from the bottom of the hill to the road.

I was first in the line of my mom, sister and I. If you’ve skied before, you know how difficult it is to blaze a trail in slightly sticky snow, but I didn’t mind. I could hear the swish, swish of my skis against the snow and the slight breeze blowing through the pine tree grove nearby. I even saw the red-tailed hawk that had spent the morning in our backyard flying overhead.

Finally to the base of the hill, I turned around. The view was awesome up there! The trees stood out in stark contrast to the snow around them, and in the distance, hills faded into a snowy white haze. It was silent too, that kind of winter silence that happens when it’s snowing and you’re motionless. I breathed in the fresh air; now was the best part.

I pushed off with my poles and flew down the gentle slope, snow stinging my face. I glided all the way down, stopping softly at the bottom.

This was definitely the best snow day ever.

 

 

** Yes, that's my hair, but look close and you can see the snowflakes I'm talking about!