What I Like About Snow

Whoa - what was that? Someone riding an ATV down a residential street during a blizzard? You bet!

I like snow, and that's a good thing when you live in Colorado. There are so many things to like about snow. Snowflakes are near the top of the list. Frozen crystals falling from the sky, none exactly the same. Snow days, when the city shuts down and you find yourself happily trapped indoors, or maybe outdoors getting into snow-inspired mischief. Snow ball fights and snow sculptures. 

Here are three of my favorite things about snow:
1) The rules of the road are temporarily suspended. (Obviously this only applies when hardly anyone is out there braving the conditions.) Slow down for that stop sign, but don't come to a complete stop or you'll be stuck. You can't see the lines on the road, so pick your route free from the impediments of picking a lane. One year, a neighbor towed his sons uphill on our street with his ATV. The boys were on skis. Making my vehicle illuminate the "you're slipping!" icon on the dashboard, on purpose, is a thrill.

2) Snow coats the winter brown grass and bare tree branches with puffy white. There is nothing quite as spectacular as new snow glittering against a blue sky. Mountain peaks covered with snow regularly grace calendar photos and postcards.

3) I'll be practical here. Snow blankets the mountains and fills the reservoirs with the water we'll need during spring, summer, and fall.

Yes, snow makes travel difficult. You have to shovel the walk, dig out the driveway, and maybe dig your vehicle out of the occasional drift. Fresh snow is pretty, while old snow can become dingy. But if you're going to complain about the snow, you might as well complain that spring is too rainy, summer too hot, and then there's fall, with those pesky leaves to rake.

We have a long stretch of winter ahead of us here in Colorado. I intend to make the most of snowy days. Gardening season will start soon enough.

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