Snow,
You come around every year for a little while. You fall and then you melt, people get excited when you arrive and then are ready to wave goodbye when its time for you to leave. But no one really talks about all that happens in between, all the things you do while you're here.
So, I guess this is a thank you. A thank you for the countless snowball fights, snow forts and sledding escapades; some of which led to injury but most of which just led to great memories. A thank you for snowing us in with hot chocolate and family christmas movie screenings. They don't happen too often with everyone's busy schedules, so it's nice when it comes around.
Thank you for snow days and for all of the snow angels and snowmen built in celebration of a day off. Thank you for delaying the flights of family members so they can stay a couple of extra days during the holidays. Thank you for the pretty scenery and the icicles, for the warm mittens and bundled coats. Thanks for the first snowfall and for the last; we're happy when it comes and happy when it goes. Thanks for the blizzards, the flurries and sometimes even the hail.
Thank you for the smiles and looks of awe on people's faces who have never seen you before, and even the looks on the ones who have. Thanks for the 10 seconds of distraction you cause in class where everyone just watches you from the window, mesmerized; somehow you have the incredible ability to draw both five year olds and 50 year olds to a window the minute you start to fall.
As simple as your job may be, falling for a little while and then melting away not much later, there is so much that comes from it. I don't think we say it enough because either the cold of the air gets to us, or we get tired of there being no sun most of the days, but here's the chance to say it, officially.
Thank you, Snow. Your presence gives us so much and without it we wouldn't have the stories of neighborhood-wide snowball fights or the endless trips up and down the hill lugging our sleds until our legs couldn't move anymore. We wouldn't appreciate the feeling of a warm cup of hot coco in our hands after hours of holding freezing snow and we wouldn't know the joy felt when the school principle calls on the phone and you hear the words "snow day." All those little joys and moments would not be reality without you, Snow, so thank you for freezing our toes and warming our hearts. It sure means a lot.
Sincerely,
The Ones Who Grew Up With You
