Wallowing in a winter wonderland

Somewhere along my life's path, I lost my love of the snow. I don't know when it happened but I know that after about 3 weeks, I'm ready for spring to arrive, pronto!

As a kid, I recall the days of being out ALL DAY in the stuff...my friends and I actually whined when our mothers made us come in to "get out of those wet things" while "don't track that in my house" resonated in the halls as we reluctantly shed our soaked duds, and slush-cover boots. And I don't remember ever really complaining when dad asked me(actually it was more like "You WILL go out there and shovel!") to remove the snow from the sidewalks and driveway. My friends and I had a system going. We had 4-5 of us all scooping it off at the same time...believe me, we could clear 20 driveways in 30 minutes...and sometimes, we even got paid to do it!

Nowadays, I don't see kids knocking on my door, asking to shovel my driveway for a few bucks. And as I think of it, with all the unobstructed hills we have around here, I don't see them sliding down the hills either. Man, we were maniacs...if the roads were ice-covered, there we were, zipping down them at high speed, narrowly missing cars, pedestrians and worst of all, street side curbs! And does anybody even tobaggan any more? I'll bet if I asked the neighborhood kids, they'd look at me as if I asked the question in Japanese! (Anno ne! Tobagan wo dekiru ka?)

Come to think of it, I don't see kids out playing in the snow that much anymore. Maybe their new PSIII's or Wii's have virtual snow built into them. Why get cold and wet when you can play in it from the warmth and comfort of your living room couch! It is any wonder the kids are getting fat!?

Today, I take no pleasure in spending an hour clearing the stuff from my driveway. I loathe the stress factor of driving in it, especially with all the SUV's, 4WD's and Hummers out there, all thinking that snow doesn't affect them in the slightest. Add to that the wind chill and the snow drifts and the black ice! ACK!

I long for the days when I could just be more carefree and daring. To sled down a hill at high speed, the wind in my ears (or was that the terrified screams of my sister sitting behind me!) and end up in a heap of snow, ice and sled at the bottom.

Maybe I'll just step outside and let a snowflake land on my tongue -- for starters!