An early spring storm has laid a thick white carpet over everything. The blue spruce across the way look as though they are wearing white ermine fur coats, as if to be going to a ball or opera. While the maple, elm, and cottonwood trees have snowy limbs and branches reaching out in supplication and prayer against the gray sky.
There are footprints in the snow on the sidewalk of someone who has walked by. The white picket fence stands almost invisible along the bushes. The birds and squirrels are coming to find the breakfast I have thrown out for them. How do the flowers fair under this mantle of white? Will the lilacs, which are leafing out, be nipped by the cold?
It’s easy to sit here by my window and enjoy the scene outdoors here in the warmth of my house. It would be perfect if not for the fact I have to go out and shovel all the snow off the walks, the car and driveway. But for all that, the air will be crisp and clean. The falling snow fresh and invigorating upon my face. The cold, a stimulating sting upon the skin. And when the work is done, I can go back inside and warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and sit back down and enjoy this late wintery spring storm. Perhaps the last one for a few months, so the images will have to last until then.
My cats, Blue and Thomas, are looking out their respective windows. I doubt they really appreciate the scene before them. Their attention is focused on the birds and squirrels. The dogs, Lady and Peewee, romped around in the snow and made their morning rounds. They were eager enough, though, to come back in.
Neighbors are starting to stir and get ready to go to work or whatever they’ll do for the day. Getting their shovels out too, and cleaning their walks. The peacefulness of the scene is being broken now as day brings on the clatter of town living. This early, wintery, spring storm, this early morn.
Englewood, Colorado, March 1994
