musing about cold and snow

These pictures came in an e-mail from a friend who lives in high desert country where they had some snow this year but nothing like this little storm that hit Quebec City, Canada. I am sure if we could cull a few pictures from the newspapers across county we would find similar pictures as the entire country has been in a deep freeze and ice and snow had been falling by the ton. I came from Massachusetts where the winter storms came in with the master stroke of a genius and changed the landscape from leave less trees and rocky terrain into a wonderland of icicles and mountains of cold stark whiteness that permeated the air with silence. I saw it through a child's eye and no one could convince me that I was not looking at a snow mountain. It certainly seemed that way and it was fun as the shovels came out to clear the walkways, the plows moved slowly along the streets, and all we could do was find the Boston flyer and head for the hill at the top of the street and steer down past the big toboggan with the big kids screaming loudly as we tried not to steer into a huge snow bank. I can tell you I have never opened a door to find that much snow piled up. Hopefully the housekeeper knew a storm was coming and had plenty of supplies until they could be dug out. I have seen lots of pictures of the Lake Tahoe area where houses have been inundated with snow and the upstairs windows are barely seen. What a feeling of isolation that must be and how the imagination takes over with a story in the making. Seeing I am confined in with my 'ague' maybe I'll start a new tale.I could start by telling of a drive down the mountains, over the Donner Summit where the walls of snow hovered over the car wide one way path to more open roads where the scenery was breathtaking beyond the words to describe it.

There is always the good side about the beauty and the fun of a huge snow fall that lasts for days and days, then the other side of the coin shows the bad side when ice and slush create driving conditions that multiply into costly accidents. A myriad of problems comes about but the dauntless people in our world become heroes as they help one another through the worst and best of winter. We are good people, most of the time, too bad it takes Mother Nature's bountiful gifts to appreciate each other . . . a snow storm . . . a hurricane. . . a tornado. I wrote this poem a few years ago called "I Often Wonder"

The elements show themselves/in so many varied forms/I often wonder is this God's way/ to keep us well informed.

The oceans circle round the globe/the mountains reaching high/moisture forms and soon a storm fills the sky.

The thunder roars/lightening soars/sending rain/upon the earth/the soil becomes a muddy pond/the trees bend/from the wind/I often wonder Is this God's way to show He sees/ the foolishness below/how come the summer storms/are soft/the world a soft glow/are we doing something to please His very soul?

This earth can tremble/crusts do move/the earth can split apart/I often wonder / Is this God's way to show the mean at heart?/ When winds collide/and form a cone/cyclonic forms arrive/ to take whatever is in its path/I often wonder/ Is this God's way to show the greedy they should share today?

The ocean can be smooth as silk/shimmering in the sun/then turn to fury/as the waves/pound heavily on shore/flooding areas/and homes are no more/ I often wonder/ Is this God's way to say we are selfish and hoard/and hoard and hoard.

Volcanoes erupt up into the sky/spuming heavy clouds/of ash and smoke/making lava rivers/to destroy anything in its path. I often wonder/ Is this God's way of telling us/nothing is forever/so wake up/pay attention/help to change our ways/ so God will make the elements behave.

With all of that I didn't mention snow . . . seems that God sends us tons of snow to calm us down, makes us realize that there is more to life than hustle and bustle . . . a time to take our measure and decided what is really important in our lives. . . so today, the start of a new day, snow or not, take a "time out" and become introspective and bring out the best in you. Hugs to you.