White Magic

Free Ikea Snowman:  some assembly required
You can see my parking place is put to good use!

Having lived in south Florida all of my life, I’m used to changes in weather: a  bright, sunny, hot day that would quickly cloud over for a shower (maybe on the front half of the yard only) and then pass to reveal cooler weather and a beautiful day.  Well, Kandern is something like that, only in reverse.  I checked the wether for today--40s.  That meant I could wear fewer layers and expect grey skies.  Imagine my surprise with real rain, not drizzle--in itself unusual--just before having to go to the other building for classes.  By the time I emerged, it was only cloudy, but before too much longer some blue peaked between the clouds and actual sun could be detected.  A short while later, a coworker commented, “Is that rain or is it snow?”  It was probably sleet (understand I have only seen that once in my life--here, a few weeks before Christmas).  Before too long huge flakes (ones that remind me of school yard children holding hands in a circle and going around the playground) descended just as I had to return to the other building for my afternoon German class!  By the time we left at least two inches of wet yet airy snow had covered the cars and windows.  Fortunately it was soft enough to brush off.  Now I’m sitting in my apartment with unthawed feet telling you this.  Yes, Kandern weather is fickle, too, dry to rain to sun, back to rain and then snow.  It even beats south Florida for speed and range of change!

Pat laughs at me because I get so fascinated with snow.  We were driving back the other night from Haagan and it was falling heavily.  With low beams, it wan’t so noticeable, but with brights on the windshield transformed into Star Wars’ Hans Solo’s view going into warp speed--amazing, no longer flakes, just streams of light!

Elizabeth’s words to Robert have often come to mind: “How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.” 

• little, tiny flakes scurrying like ants in all directions
• purposed, bulleted, wet ones aiming to earth with determination
• huge, soft, dry flakes lazily gliding on air currents
• clusters of flakes roaming together before parking
• scout flakes that fall just a few at a time over long periods
• large flakes in ranks like an army determined to coat the lower world
• elementary school flakes of all sizes just playing their way down
• Saturday's listless flakes that seem defeated, aware of the impending warmer temps
• snowball fights among elementary children waiting for the bus OR the high schoolers between classes
• inches high stacks of airy foam atop leaves, table tops, roof tops, or creating white arches on the brown wooden fence in the back yard
• crunchy steps tracking across an undisturbed blanket of white
• dull grays and browns painted glistening white within hours

To me, it is just awe inspiring and a reminder of God’s creativity beauty.