Snow snow snow

Those who may read this in a less fortunate area where you get snow regularly won't appreciate the importance of one day of snow.

Here in Eden, er, Blythewood, we don't get much snow. One day of snow with under an inch of accumulation pretty much destroys the city. And that's exactly how we like it!

Today was that day. We awoke to snow falling pretty heavily. It built up to a nice 3/4 inch or so. Just enough to take Madeline out to play in it and see snow for the first time. She was amazed and perplexed. She spent a lot of time looking out the windows at the snow falling, with wide excited eyes. There wasn't enough on the ground for a snow man, and with freezing temperatures it is not a good idea to take a 1 year old out for long anyway.

But, at least she got to see her first snow.

Then, the ground began to warm. The snow melted faster than it fell. A bizarre battle was waged, where the sky beat down heavily with large beautiful flakes swirling and tumbling. The ground began to warm, even though the sun was occluded, melting the snow as soon as it hit. The beauty of snow is not just the falling flakes, but the blanket of purity that is spread across the land. This was not to be, for just as quickly as it began, it was over. The ugly dead grass, sodden with water, now became a desolate view. No more was there joy and hope for deep crunching snow to trample under foot, just the soggy muck to track inside. No matter how much the heavens may try to prevail and bestow their gift, it is removed by the hot and humid turf.

The beauty now over, just the taunting of falling flakes like ash from some great fire.

Odd that today is inauguration day...