Opinion

Still a kid in the snow

Friday, January 8, 2010

Since purchasing my home in August, I'd been dreading this day: the first snowfall of the winter.

I've always had a love for playing in the snow, but it's not about playing anymore once you own a sidewalk, a driveway and porches.

It's work.

So I went to bed last night looking forward to the serene scene to which I would awake. However, I dreaded the labor it would bring.

Then just as I'd suspected, I awoke to several inches of snow. Filled with dread, I donned several layers of clothing to keep me warm. With my trusty shovel and broom, I set out to clear a path to my wife's car and get her to work.

But much to my surprise, the "work" wasn't so terrible. Certainly it got my blood flowing, but so does swimming or going for a good walk. Those things certainly aren't negatives.

It was actually fun. When I was a kid, I like to make snowballs and throw them at people. On this brisk morning, I was throwing snow again; I was just getting it out of my way.

The end result may be slightly less fun, but it's still basically the same activity.

It's a secret I should have discovered years ago. On snowy mornings, my dad would get up bright and early to fire up his plow and snow blower.

Now, I always thought the appeal wasn't so much the snow, but the power equipment. He never actually got to the job of clearing snow for an hour or two. The first order of business was getting both pieces of equipment up and running.

For my dad -- much more of a gearhead than myself -- that may have been the main appeal, but I think it was a bit of both.

One of my co-workers came in this evening talking about playing in the snow with his kids. I understand the big thing for him may have been seeing the fun in the snow through the kids' eyes, but I think he was also enjoying it for himself.

That's what I look forward to as well. Looking back, some of my favorite memories with my dad and older brother are of shoveling driveways for my grandma, great aunts and neighbor ladies.

Were your toes frozen at the end? Sure.

Did snow always seem to find it's way down the back of your neck? Most definitely.

But was it quality time with the people I love? I think we all know the answer.

With Nicole set to have our first baby in July, I'm ready to make those memories.

Anyone think the kid will be ready to shovel snow with me next winter?

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