Reflections From a Country Girl

I recently traveled to Pennsylvania for a week to visit friends. These days I have decided to drive to my destinations when I travel.  I’ve found a love for driving I did not have when I was busily working and raising a family.  My son went with me. 

I’ve learned, as some of us have, that the most direct route is not always the prettiest. Instead of driving straight up 95 I decided to take 77 to 81.  It was a more westerly route and carried us through the Shanandoah Valley area and in to some lovely mountains. 

On the way up, I noticed the beginning of a brilliant change of color on the trees.  It was a lovely ride.  The closer we got to Pennsylvania, the brighter the leaves became.  There was an occasional gold, yellow, orange, bright red tree along the way. 

Fall was in the air.  

As it is this time of year, the weather was crisp at night and warmed up nicely during the day.  We knew there might be rain but my weather icon on the phone told me there may also be a few snowflakes on Tuesday.  

I smiled when I saw that.  Since I love snow and we rarely get any in South Carolina where I live, I thought how nice it would be to see a few snowflakes while on our trip…knowing full well that October is not the best time to see the white stuff.  

Monday night we enjoyed a fire on the patio of our friends’ home.  Blankets surrounded us as we cuddled near that fire and enjoyed the fresh brisk air, a cup of tea, and some good conversation.  The night was clear and promised to be colder before morning.  

Tuesday I got my wish.  Snow.  It first came down with rain and then quickly turned into the biggest snowflakes I have ever seen.  We decided to go out – as northerners do regardless of the snow. I drove.  

Now I not only love snow but I enjoy driving in it.  I think my friends were a littler nervous when I jokingly said I wanted to do a “wheely” in the parking lot.  I constrained myself. 

The more we drove the harder and faster it came down. By the time we arrived at our destination it was starting to stick.  It was not just the frosty white blanket we see in SC when it turns to ice.  These were the fluffiest, biggest flakes I have ever witnessed. 

When you are a Northerner, you become an expert at snow.   I learned there is snow that comes down with rain.  It doesn’t stick and is a very wet snow.  Then there is the snow that comes from a particular location.  Lake effect snow may be different than snow coming from the west or whipping around from the east.  There is fast snow and slow snow.

I just knew I liked snow. Period.  

After a few hours of shopping, visiting a friend at her worksite, and stopping for lunch, there were several inches on the ground and on our cars.  It was beginning to be slippery to walk on.  My son felt a need to hold on to me as we walked so I would not fall.  

“Wonder if this would be good snow for snowballs?” I said with a bit of glee in my voice. 

“Yes.”  as I started to form one.  When I had a few well formed, I threw them toward others.  A snowball fight ensued and, just as quickly, ended.  After all, bare hands make for cold fingers when playing in the snow.  

Just as quickly as it came, it ended.  But not before fun ensued and laughs filled the air.  

The contribution that weather made to the leaves changing was dramatic. It was almost as though mother nature took a paintbrush and whisped yellow, red and orange over most of the trees that morning.  It looked like fire filled the streets and mountains on the way back through the Shanandoah Valley.  

My wish for you today is that you savor moments like this when they occur.  Just as quickly as they come, they go…and life may continue as normal.  I suspect it is a subtle reminder that there are many things right with the world if we take the time to look. 

~ Joellen

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 at 8:28:am and is filed under Family/Friends Gatherings, Life & Events, Living Life to the Fullest, Nature Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.