Winter in the Mid Hudson Valley has been going just fine. To my satisfaction, and perhaps other's resentment, we've received almost 10 inches spread over the last month. Though it has also occasionally warmed up, so only, say, three of those are left on the ground. But there is a lot you can do with three inches of snow.
After our first big installment I was baffled that though there are a number of kids in my apartment complex, I saw no snowmen. So as I was on my way out the door to pick up some badly needed groceries, I took the time to pile three large balls of snow for my area's first. Then after my shopping (which included getting some carrots for a nose) I noticed how lonely my snowman looked. So as the sun slowly slipped down the south western sky I built him a wife, child, dog, and another snowman to take their family photo. In the process I was also able to meet a few friendly neighbors. So all in all we had a merry time.
But alas, all things must end, and my frozen family knew that all too well. Within a week each of the quintet succumbed to the harsh reality of an active sun and equally active neighborhood children. And so stood the disheveled forms where once was a glorious triumph.
But I'm not done writing! No, this story does not end there. For we are not all snowmen, nor do we wane when an ill week of warmth comes our way. We persevere! We survive! We wait until the next snow comes to refresh our melting lives. And it did. This last weekend the Northeast was blessed with 5 more inches. And little did we waste it.
Starting Friday evening I joined my church's youth group for a winter retreat. With plenty of snowfall and just enough fuel for the wood burning stove, we enjoyed our weekend at camp SonRise located about an hour north of Albany. The festivities included board games (Simpson's Trivia anyone?), singing, skiing, snow angels, hide-and-go-seek, and of course Bible study. It was a great time to get to know 13 of the youth (and the 3 other leaders), though my time there was cut short due to my non-Martin-Luther-King-Jr.-Birthday(observed)-abiding employer.
And so I wish you plenty of snow as well, though I know that some of you (say Mandi) have little chance of getting any.
Steve