SNOW! Why is that word so magical?

For as long as I can remember, the mere mention of the word whips me up into such a frenzy. I don’t know when or why my fascination with snow started. My earliest memory of snow is when I was about 8 or 9. We lived in Greenville, SC in a neighborhood that had a long steep road leading into it. I can remember sledding down that hill with Dad & Josh on an old fashion metal and wood sled that I think Dad or I still have. I think I also remember him using his motorcycle or lawnmower to pull me back up the hill so I didn’t have to walk. And when we got home, Mom would have a roaring fire going and we’d have hot chocolate or snow cream for dessert.

As I got older, I continued to play in the snow like I was still 8 or 9. In fact, just a few years ago, when we had “the big one”, a co-worker and I were allowed to leave work early (along with everyone else) to get home for safety. On the way, we heard on the radio that Bed, Bath & Beyond at Concord Mills was open and they were selling plastic disc sleds like hotcakes. We decided to go by there and see if they still had any. Sure enough, they did and we bought one each for ourselves and one for the young neighbor boy, Sean, who we knew would love to go play with us. On the way out of the store, a local news team asked if they could interview us and we agreed. They asked if we were let out of work early for safety and we said yes. Then they asked where we worked. I was hoping Angie wouldn’t say, since our company is a public utility, but sure enough, she told them “Piedmont Natural Gas”. The next day, our boss called us into her office and got onto us for sharing with the public that we left work early only to find out we went shopping for sleds.

So as each winter season approaches, I immediately start wondering when we will get our first chance at seeing snow. I don’t necessarily have to have it stick…I just like seeing it fall. So the fact that we’ve had 3 weekends in a row with a potential to see snow means I’ve been as excited as a pig in a poke. And for those that haven’t seen it yet, most 10 day forecasts are calling for it to happen again Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Now that would send me over the edge. Rocky is at home today running errands. His list includes getting kerosene for the garage heater, gasoline for the four wheelers and Jeep, bread and sandwich meat for the house, and anything else we might need if the snow actually sticks. So far, all I’ve seen is about 5 minutes of snow, sleet and rain out of my window at work. But I hear that later today things could be more exciting.

So if you’re out and about in the SouthPark area today, look up at the 5th floor and you just might catch a glimpse of this: