Let it Snow....

"Oh the weather outside is frightful.
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go:
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."
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I was listening to this song today (getting into the Christmas Spirit) and looking out the window as layer after layer of snow came down, covering the earth with a cold, wet blanket.
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In the backyard I could hear squeals of delight coming from my two little niece-lets as they sledded down the ramp in the snow. They were all bundled up in their snow gear having the time of their lives riding a sled down the ramp, pulling it back up and starting the process all over again.
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For a moment I could picture my sister, Erin, and I in our hot pink snowpants running up the ramp pulling our sleds and then zooming back down and swerving to avoid the pear tree at the bottom. We spent hours at a time playing in the snow- always reluctant to put the sleds away and go inside for the evening- fingers numb and "jack snot dripping out our noses."
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If we were really lucky we would get together with our friends and pull our sleds down the street to Happy Hollow, where we would enjoy hours of sledding down much steeper, icier hills- often ending in bruised rear ends or bloody noses.
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No matter the activity, we spent as much time as possible playing in the snow. We often walked to school, church and the library. On occasion we would participate in neighborhood snowball fights, teaming up and running rampant across our neighbors' pristine, snow-covered lawns. Old scarves and gloves were collected at the end of the season when all of the snowmen had waved goodbye.
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Yet now as I looked out the window, watching as my brother-in-law made a futile effort to shovel the sidewalk amidst a never-ending onslaught of snow, I realized just how differently I view this "marshmallow world" now.
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Gone are the days of tramping around in snow overalls. Gone are the magical nights spent sliding down the ramp. Now snow is viewed as the enemy. The one I must combat to clear the car, scrape the windshield, and make it to work in one piece.
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Now as I see the sparkly flakes coming down, instead of excitement, I feel dread.
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In the background the words of the song waft once more in my ears: "And since we've no place to go- let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."
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That's it!- No place to go. Seriously- who has no place to go? I could see how the snow would seem much more magical if I didn't have to fight it everyday, but could sit peacefully by the fire sipping hot cocoa. But who can do that? What about school, work, church, family parties?? I guess whoever wrote the song must be doing something different than I am-- but until I figure that out.... Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow....(in the mountains, that is).