The perfect snow

Thats what we got today. Today is Friday.

Wednesday was a perfect kind of day. It felt like 65 degrees, gray skys, but storm energy present. Gentle breeze to keep the air from stagnating, but not enough to make you chill or even blow your hair.

Wednesday evening, after drama practice, I came home, put on shorts, and went for a bike ride. For nearly two hours, around downtown and the north part of the city. I got in around midnight. I came home because I was tired, and done with riding for one day. Not because it was cold.

Thursday evening, we had thundersleet, and rain, and sleet, and some ice. Overnight, we got more sleet, more ice, some sleet and snow. Several inches of snow. And it accumulated.

This morning, just over 24 hours from a perfect bike-riding night, my damp hands were freezing to the door of my apartment when I would re-enter to refill the cup of hot water I use to thaw my car-door locks. But still, there was no breeze. Thats good since my coats (all of them) were locked inside my car. And, being Friday, I chose to wear my favorite school shirt – a short-sleeve polo.

But, it is still the perfect snow. It is just dry enough to make that sqeaky crunching sound under foot, but damp enough that snowballs remain intact until they blister the target.

It was blowing all around all morning. Snowblowing the sidewalks was a pointless obligation, but fun to watch nonetheless. I left at lunch for the Express Workout at the YW, only to find them completely closed. I grabbed a Subway sandwich across the street from my home, then stopped in to grab a few things before heading back to work.

Driving in the snow was a blast. Traffic load was about half of normal. All the noises are muffled, and the tires are making that cool scruntchy sound as I roll along. You don’t have to honor the traditional street lanes if you don’t want to. And cornering… an excuse to use the skills you learned in snow covered parking lots as a teenager!

Our office is on the hill. The sledding hill. The only real hill in the City. We actually canceled school today, so I don’t know why I was suprised when kids showed up to go sledding. And, of course, its the perfect snow. I made up my mind while getting my lunch – I am going sledding today, too.

I gathered my jeans and sweatshirt and gloves while at home. I have a big sheet of pasteboard in my trunk (I keep it around for repairs) and my choice of coats in the backseat. I plan to wear the denim jacket. It will wear the best, I think (even though it will also get soppy). I don’t want to risk tearing one of my other coats.

I am strangely excited about this. I originally planned on working late on various projects this afternoon. Then I realized – this is the perfect snow. I haven’t sledded in years. I need to do this. I am doing this for myself. To take advantage of the moment. Of a unique opportunity for me. It is MY hill. I can see the launch point from where I am sitting.

I need to make a statement that a person is never too old or professional to play in the snow.

I need to say that I opted for a road I’ve traveled less.

It doesn’t matter if I “have a good time” sledding or not. I will be having a good time *because* I am sledding.

The work I need to do can wait.

This is the perfect snow.