Everyone Is Entitled To My Opinion- On Snow

Written by Alex Lloyd Gross, January 21, 2024


by Paul Big Bear

Dear Friends,

       Living with changing seasons seems to evoke varied reactions; “summers are so short.” “I love the leaves when they change their fall colors.” “I am not looking forward to snow.” “I love the snow.” “Summer is so hot.” I must admit that I have my opinions of the four seasons, the temperature ranges, the accompanying weather; thunder storms, summer rains, winter snow ranging from a dusting to a blizzard. Driving is often affected by the weather, visibility is impaired, and roads can become slippery, flooded, icing roads and walkways. Of course my favorite reaction has to be, “SUV, 4 wheel drive, what makes them think they can speed under these weather conditions?”

Of course in summer it’s too hot and the fans and air conditioners run constantly. Winter the heat bills are a worry, in the morning you bundle up and by mid day you are shedding clothes as the day warms. Let us not ignore these ditties; I am moving south away from these cold winters! I never want to shovel snow again. I am moving where I can play golf all year round! Oh to live where you can sit on the beach every day.

I admit that I have complained of “too hot” and “too cold” weather and I really don’t enjoy raking leaves, mowing my lawn, or shoveling snow but I want to share something with you. Last Monday evening as I opened the Bear Cave door to go home I found that it had snowed, as I swept the snow off my steps I was struck by the beauty of this beautiful white blanket covering my yard and the neighborhood, as the snow softly fell I was moved by the quiet beauty of it all. I salted the steps and went back in to retrieve my briefcase and turn off the lights as a song came on the radio, “Snowfall” by Claude Thornhill, I stood in my doorway as this beautiful and most fitting music played and stared as the snow softly covered my world now set to music. As the music ended I stepped out and locked my door, turned and walked slowly home, glad that I live with the beauty of changing seasons.