Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
–Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Snow. It's a four-letter word and I was taught that four-letter words were bad words, but snow isn't always a four-letter word.
When I wrote this article on being prepared for snow and ice, I started thinking about how much I enjoy the beauty of snow. Oh, snow can be troublesome and annoying, especially if you have to get to work, the store or really just go anywhere, but there is a beauty and peacefulness to snow.
Think about the quiet that descends on a busy neighborhood when there's a blanket of fresh snow on the ground. Usually, we hear cars, dump trucks, planes, helicopters and all kinds of noise on a daily basis. But when there's snow, most of those sounds are gone and you have the opportunity to hear nature. This is what I'm talking about.
Try to imagine walking through woods filled with freshly fallen snow. Of course, you're bundled up, so you don't get cold. You probably still feel the cold on your face and depending on your footwear, your toes may be getting a little chilly. Think of the sounds you might hear - an old tree limb falling from the weight of the snow, a bird chirping in the distance, or even the trickle of a stream. Would you hear any of this if it weren't for the snow? Would you even pause long enough to notice? Snow can make us slow down and pause, even if only for a brief moment.
Don't get me wrong. As I age, the thought of slipping on a patch of ice and landing on my bootie terrifies me. I'm not old, but I don't really want to break any bones. It's bad enough when your spouse has a broken bone. I just like to enjoy that beauty and stillness on the rare occasion that it happens around here.
Is "snow" a four-letter word? Have you noticed the beauty of nature in snow? Do you pause to enjoy it?
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