By Staff
Melissa Cason
Last week my boys got to see something very new to them: Snow. I know it's hard to believe but we finally got some snow. Unfortunately for my kids, it did not stick and they did not get to build a snowman as they had wanted.
But, while the snowflakes were falling my boys were happy. Our after school program was cancelled and I had to go home and pick them up from school. There was a lot of excitement in my boys' faces as they asked, "Mom, do you see the snow?"
They acted as if they had just hit the jackpot, and when we got home, I could not get them in the house. They were running around in the yard with their arms open wide to catch the snowflakes.
Watching them briefly made me think of the first time I saw a big snow. It was about a year or so after we moved to south Arkansas from east Texas. I was about 11 or 12.
Our first year in Arkansas, all we got was a lot of ice, but our second year, we got our first snow. I remember putting on my coat and walking in the snow for hours. I loved it. I love the way it feels when it snows and I love the way having big snowflakes fall to the ground makes me feel.
I know it sounds crazy but walking in the snow is very refreshing to me, which is surprising because I hate rain, and all snow is frozen rain.
Over the past 30 years, I have gotten to see about seven good snows, and three massive ice storms. I love snow, but I hate ice.
The last time I remember it snowing in Alabama was in early 2000. I was pregnant with Jordan-my oldest- and was snowed in all day by myself. Jimmy was at work, but my office had let us have the day off.
I remember looking outside at the snow all day. Jimmy had warned me not to get out in it because he was afraid I'd fall and not have anyone there to help me. I wanted to walk in the snow so badly, and if I had realized we would not see snow for eight years, I would have done it.
I would have gotten on my coat and taken a walk. As I watched my boys run around in the snow, I wanted it to stick so badly so that they could build a snowman, and have memories of snow.
Thursday when they woke up, I had two little boys begging to stay home, and asking why the snow was gone. I told them that snow is frozen water and that it melts if it's not cold enough for it to stay frozen. I could see the disappointment in their faces.
So if I had one wish for the winter it would be that we could have about a foot of snow for about two days, and then spring would start.
I hope everyone enjoyed the little winter wonderland.
It's too bad we never get to see it.