Ahhhh, snow days.
If I were roughly 10-15 years younger, this would be a love letter. Today, my relationship with snow days is complicated.
I'll always remember the craziest snow day I ever experienced as a student in the Mason City Community School District. I'm sure many of you remember the infamous May snowstorm of 2013. I was in seventh grade at the time, and I'm not sure what the numbers were here, but my hometown received upwards of nine inches of snow.
I woke up to snow piled about halfway up the living room window. If any of you are wondering if I have my dates wrong, I assure you it was May 1. Not April Fool's Day. May 1.
In short, that was a magical day in my childhood.
Last week, my imagination wasn't up to it. I didn't feel any magic. I had things to get done, places to be, people to see, and the snow days made me somewhat grumpy. When a big part of your job is driving all over the place to conduct interviews and take photos, snow days can be more of a nuisance. I've got deadlines, Mother Nature!
As I try to do when something makes me grumpy, I reflect on why I'm feeling that way. Every single time, it is because there is something wrong with me or my approach.
This time was no different.
Snow gives us pause. It slows things down, and we live in a culture that is go, go, go.
Snow is also the great equalizer. We get back to basics after a big storm – no one cares about your car, your house or your lawn. You're just another person with snow all over your stuff.
Snow interrupts plans. It makes us do hard things. I certainly don't like being interrupted, and I like doing hard things when they're on my terms.
The most important thing snow does, though, is make us more civic-minded. There are so many things that happen after some snow falls from the sky that make me think, “Why aren't things like that all the time?”
You'll never hear more “thank yous” to city and county employees than after the plows get out. The amount of posts I see on Facebook offering to shovel and/or plow someone's driveway and sidewalk is really touching. When an older member of our population drives a little slower out of caution, we actually understand them and give them a bit of grace.
Snow isn't just the great equalizer because it puts us all on the same level – it's the great equalizer because it actually makes us see each other as equals.
My favorite newspaper comic strip of all time is “Calvin and Hobbes.” A couple years ago, my aunt/godmother got me the full collection for Christmas, and I must say it is and always will be one of the best gifts I've ever received.
In his final strip ever, Bill Watterson poignantly used life after a snowstorm as a great double entendre. It showed that Calvin is still a child using his imagination who will continue to have adventures whether they are recorded by an “author” or not, and it also revealed what Watterson was feeling as he left behind his greatest work to pursue a deeper, more committed family life at just 38 years old.
The strip depicts Calvin and Hobbes trudging through the snow with a sled.
“Wow, it really snowed last night!” Calvin says. “Isn't it wonderful?”
“Everything familiar has disappeared!” Hobbes replies. “The world looks brand new!”
“A new year... a fresh, clean start!” Calvin says.
“It's like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on!” the imaginary tiger says.
“A day full of possibilities,” Calvin determines.
And the final line, which is the best way any comic strip has ever ended, pierces my heart every time.
“It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy,” Calvin says as he positions himself on the sled. “Let's go exploring!”
With that, the pair zips off into the tundra.
I know Watterson is still exploring in his own way, even if it isn't in the public eye.
On days where we're forced to slow down and stay home, we can still do some exploring, too.
Reading a good book, drinking some hot coffee and shoveling snow for oneself and one's neighbors doesn't mean you aren't getting anything done. It means that the snow has returned us to where we are supposed to be – operating out of care, consideration and patience.
Spending extra time with family, when our societal setup keeps us apart from each other so much, is also a blessing.
When I worked 12 hours the other day and finally got home for some dinner and relaxation before bed, I would have given anything for Mother Nature to give us some more snow overnight.
Look at me learning to love snow days again.
