Haters gon’ hate but I love me some snow. Love it! Love blizzards, sledding, skiing, snow angels, all that good snowy fun. An Irish coffee afterwards is just the icing on the cake.
A friend posited that it was because I don’t have to do much shoveling or park on the streets of Chicago. This might be true, at least for the latter part. I do actually enjoy shoveling, snow blowing, and the like. It’s a workout outside with Mother Earth! The parking issue, on the other hand… Well, that is the exact reason that we selected an apartment with a garage. We could have found one cheaper or closer to work that had exposed parking or street parking. But we decided after last winter’s blizzards that garage parking was a priority and there you have it. Nonetheless, after this most recent blizzard there was a price to pay. Jim and I got stuck in Michigan for an extra day and a half while everyone dug out and plowed the streets. We both missed some work and since our side street and alley were actually impassable, we had to stay in a hotel downtown for one night while the city caught up on snow removal.
As in all things, though, perspective determines emotions I feel. I chose the perspective of:
This is no big deal. This is an adventure! We are going to be fine. One hotel night stay is an unexpected expense but it’s just money and it won’t break the bank. Let’s take advantage of our extra time together!
Wouldn’t you know it, the emotions I felt as a result were light and carefree. And life arranged itself accordingly, as it always does, because I am in charge of creating my own experiences.
I decided to go outside with the camera while another 2 inches were blanketing the city in fresh powder on top of the 2 feet of snow that were already there. It was quiet and magical. I was bundled up in my many winter layers but eventually the cold seeped in. My fingers froze, my camera got kinda wet, I got snow in my eyes, and my nose was running by the end. All part of a day outdoors in the cold and thankfully the photos are more than worth the effort, so I returned to my home with a smile. Please enjoy and be sure to tell me about your snow days in the comments!
Here I am! That Redhead, your trusty guide. Redheaded and red-nosed, might I add. And yes, the snow is bright enough even on an overcast day that sunglasses are a good idea. Pale kids have pale retinas. Or we’re secretly vampires. You decide.
My trusty Hunter boots and fleece liners! This might be their third winter. Worth the purchase!
Parking is tricky business in Chicago. If you dig out your spot, you keep your dibs by marking it with whatever you have on hand.
Our park is downright sacred space to us and is gorgeous under a blanket of snow. So still, so serene.
I love that snowy days get that haziness that blurs the edges of reality and can make you feel like you are the only human for miles.
In the end, birds and humans alike, we’re all gathered up together and waiting for the thaw. Winter is special because it is a season, therefore fleeting, and it ends like any other. Soon enough, we’ll be back to sunshine and green and flowers and a constant buzz of nature. It’s just around the corner.
In the meantime, though, how about getting some snow on you and finding the magic outside?
What did you do on your snow day? :)