FIRST SNOW

“I’m YOUNGER each year

at the FIRST SNOW,

when I SEE it,

SUDDENLY, in the air,

ALL LITTLE and white and moving;

Then IAM IN LOVE again

and VERY YOUNG

and BELIEVE everything.”

ANNE SEXTON

There is nothing more exciting for me than to dance in, around, beneath the whril of the first snow of the season.

Anticipating, wishing, and praying, We knew the snow was being made in the heavens to delight us all. I call it the smell of snow in the air, BB calls it department of transportation Snoqualmie pass snowcams He likes to see things objectively. We decided it was time to make a tradition and head for the hills to our cabin. The Grand party was over and done. What a great stress reliever for me. I was so excited about the pending snow fall in th higher elevation. Thinking about our cozy mountain cabin deep into the woods made me getty with excitement. I gathered up my ski pants, jacket, gloves, sweaters, flannels, everything for the snow. The dogs circled around me -they knew where they were going. The kids were so much in a hurry they forget to pack their snow clothes and I was so excited I forgot to check their packs.

We took off Friday morning and headed towards the hills, across rivers, passing old growth forest lands, rocky hillsides and two counties heading to our cozy cabin just waiting for us with open arms.

AND WE WAITED by the glow of the fire, watching back to back episodes of season 2 of Little House on the Prairie-WAITING for the snow to fall. Every once in awhile we would get excited,and put our noses to the window, it’s coming but not sticking. We gazed into the sky smelling the snow, the air was chilled and beckaning and trumpeting out to the heavens, the dogs running with excitement. Sami’s little girl wishes came true this night and the wet snow turned to soft snow falling silently sticking to the frozen ground; it came down from the heavens like darts of love covering the earth for all to be young at heart again. Our hearts were filled with the love of the first snow

The next morning the kids and I were up before dawn and went for snow walks, beautiful, quite, dark, enchanting moring. Later, BB and I went on our own private walk sans the children. Beauty all around us just for us to enjoy. We decided this walk along an old logging road would be perfect for my snowboarding, no gultches, more room for the ride, and a two mile incline down to level ground. Sounds so wonderful, but it would sure be a bummer having to walk back up the hill with a snowboard on my back. BB was quick to say he would snowmobile me up the hill so I can ride, ride, and ride to get my thrill on. I’m hoping this plan will work out.

I did get to hike alone just me, myself and my father. This is my time with him, I feel his presence more while in nature. He was the one who taught me about my rich Indian heritage and to have pride in my soul, he is the one who taught me the legends, lore of my tribe, the fish, the rivers everything living I hiked up far into the Mt Baker Snoqualmie Wilderness glowing with the presence of my father hiking along side of me. Higher and higher I climbed into the wilderness, there are really no words to describe the beauty my eyes see and the feelings I have which dwell deep inside of me.

I sat down near a massive flat rock formation with a powerful water fall cascading upon it. A perfect place to rest flat on my back and surrender myself to the call of the wild. It was at this time, I made my first snow angel of the year-a tradition for me with many more to come. This one was for my father.