dreaming of springtime

So, remember back a few months ago, when it was November, and we all hoped for at least "one good snow storm this winter!"?

And then, merry Christmas to us, we were bombarded with a ginormous amount of snow. And then we got more. And then...we got even more. It even fell into this pattern, this rhythm (Tuesdays and Friday/Saturdays), and I've never seen anything like it!

I thought it was absolutely beautiful. And there was something fun and adventurous about walking to work every morning while navigating the streets and climbing the little hills of snow on the sidewalks that hadn't been claimed as belonging to anyone, and had therefore remained snow-covered. Sure, I fell down my "driveway of doom/steeply inclined ice-death-trap" at least once per morning, and even had a few intense and embarrassing, if not a little dangerous, falls in front of oncoming rush-hour morning traffic. But it was all just so GORGEOUS, especially while it was falling at night.

I would open the blinds, and turn on the porch light, and the cat and I would take turns looking out of the windows and glass doors, watching it endlessly and silently cover the ground, the solar lights in our back yard, the car... And then when it hung to the bushes for days and laid on the trees like heavy, lazy blankets, it was a pretty impressive, visually stunning bit of loveliness! Walking around this town during a snow shower is a particular kind of magic, I think!

But now, the aesthetic appeal has definitely worn off, because now it's filthy and just SO unattractive! There's mostly mud, sand, and black smoke from all the car exhaust mixed in with brownish yellow wet stuff that used to be snow. It's no longer pristine and sparkling. Instead, at this point, it's mostly just depressing, like an old worn out old hound dog that refuses to just give up and die, um, or melt. I'm over it!

Which brings me to my little daydream: it's one of sun dresses, like this one from Pinup Girl Clothing, over which I'm currently lusting, and it's about meandering wanderings downtown without any purpose whatsoever. It's full of warm breezes, and daylight that lingers into the evening, well past 6pm. It's about people-watching...when spring starts getting into swing, we're all like bears who've come out of hibernation, and hours of amusement can be had sitting at one of the restaurants who have patios.

Ah, and the BLOOM FACTOR: the tulips! Let's not forget the tulips. And don't even get me started on the lilac bushes.

But, it's refreshing and fun to observe that some people around here have maintained a sense of humor about all this snow that just doesn't know how to take a hint.

Someone told me that there is an actual class at UVa in which they are doing scientific and mathematical calculations to predict when that 50 foot mountain of snow in Barrack's Road Shopping Center is going to melt. (My bets are on mid- to late-May.)

And also delightful is the fact that the church on Park Street had even given in to the spirit of frivolity that a snow event can cause. I LOVED the "join our flock sign, surrounded by a mass of pink flamingos leading up to the doors of the church. So amusing! Well, done, church on Park Street!

I guess I can deal with it for a little longer. Maybe we'll get another huge snow storm...in which case, there's always hot chocolate, cookie baking, and snow-person constructing to look forward to. :)