The holidays have come and gone. Decorations are down, house is clean and free of clutter (at least for the next 5 seconds) and winter has plopped itself on Maryland, with snow coming tomorrow and Sunday and Monday. Maybe maybe 3-5 inches maybe 10-12. Every website predicts a different amount.

How is it we can have the world on a tiny screen on our wrist but cannot predict weather appropriately? I actually know the answer to that. I’ve been teaching weather since September. Our atmosphere is a complex place, my friends, complex and dynamic and GOD bless meteorologists because I sure could not do their job.

Everyone seems to be looking forward to the snow. At work yesterday, all of the students and adults were talking about a potential snow day on Monday. Snow is magical, when it’s falling and blowing and landing and accumulating and then when it’s done, and the world is bathed in white, it’s as if the world changed, as if the tilt tilted just a little more, and it comes at a time when it seems everyone needs that change. The holidays are over, there isn’t much happening on the horizon for most, and the months of January and February seem so spread out and llllloooooooonnnnnnggggg. And then it snows and I forget to look ahead or even think about the future; I am immediately in the moment and live there for that day.

Maybe that is why Norway or Sweden or wherever in the north contains the happiest people on Earth, because cold and snow and windy days and blowing white force us to stay in and cuddle up and live in the moment. I cannot stress about anything when sitting in front of a warm fire, the wind howling outside, a nice cup of tea/coffee/cocoa at my side, good books stacked up, and my family, the people I love more than anything, right beside me. In my heart, there is nothing much better in the world.

Some would argue a beach and sand and waves do the same thing. I’m not arguing that point and can agree. But in January/February, when I cannot travel because I am a teacher, so the beach and waves and tropical temperatures are not within my reach, I’ll take the snow and cold and wind and a snow day.

Update: Our little town in Maryland received 6 inches of snow and 2 snow days + a delay. And what did I do during those two days? Sat in front of a fire, cooked some white chicken chili, cooked some homemade spaghetti and meatballs, planned out our summer vacation, read a little, did a puzzle, watched a tiny bit of television, took a hike in the woods with little man, spent two hours blowing out our neighbor’s driveway, and maybe, just maybe, had a nice cup (or two) of decaf coffee and some bailey’s Irish cream. With whipped cream. And sprinkles.

What is your ideal snow/winter day?