Silence of a Winter’s Day

There is no memory sweeter, or as magical, than remembering our excitement seeing the snow fall as children. To my memory snow seemed much deeper and much heavier than compared to snow falls today. I am sure that is just my inner child’s view. Last year’s snow totals were around 20 inches in Louisville for the winter. Ugh…… we are starting early with snow this year. Our snow from last week melted slowly away throughout the week. Now here we are with a repeated snow followed by single digit temperatures. White Christmas?……. Maybe! I anticipate that notion with mixed views at this season of life. It is pretty, and snow on Christmas is idyllic. However the adult reality is……it can complicate things. As children we don’t even have this awareness.

That is a good thing. Only for adults to think about. My mind starts wandering down memory lane. I do this a lot. I am blessed to have my memories at this stage of my life. Some I know not as fortunate. Maybe their memories are not sweet to them. Maybe they are unable to remember the past. I see myself with nose pressed to the window. I like letting my breath make fog on the window pain. My curiosity is peaked when I see a fresh cut Christmas tree tied to the top of Uncle John Scott’s old Model T Ford. The sound of his car heading up The Lane to his home breaks the silence of a winter’s day in December years ago..

I remember a snow day long ago….. my brothers and me are dressing in our warmest clothes and our four buckle over shoes to go out. The first thing we did was scoop up hands full of snow for making snow cream. Sidetracked with the delight of making snow angels, building snowmen and tossing snowballs made us forget snow cream. With our frozen red cheeks we rushed back inside to warm ourselves by a crackling fire.
After a treat of hot chocolate my little brother’s usually fell asleep by the warmth of the open fireplace. As I recall the past childhood days on The Lane they seem like yesterday. I see my brothers’ smiling faces as they go to bed early in hopes that Santa will come. Dreaming and wishing for sweet candy and toys instead of a lump of cold or a bag of switches.

A treasured memory is the fresh cut tree with its piney scent cut by my younger brother Jack. That memory is a story in and of itself. I will never forget that one!

I remember the hush that snow brings at night. Little Mildred tries hard to be quiet enough to hear the jingle of the sleigh bells and the hooves of the reindeer… in the hopes they land on her rooftop! In bed with her stillness she listens for the squeak of Santa’s boots. Stockings are waiting. We hope to find them filled with fresh oranges, apple, nuts and candy canes. Maybe a toy under the tree on Christmas morning….…definitely a big wish. One that might be too much to expect. But, she can hope.

Do you remember seeing your first snowfall? Do you remember a special Christmas? I’m sure you have your own special memories of cold winter days and evenings watching the snow fall.

Christmas it’s coming and as in my childhood memories …..I’m thinking of the possibility of a White Christmas.

My quote today is by Emily Dickinson….. the mere sense of living is joy enough.