Snow Rain

We have snow this morning in Dallas for the first time in years.  My wife told Troy that it's called "snow rain" because it's raining snow.  While this could be argued as technically true, I think it could be argued in the negative as well.  Rain is technically a liquid, while snow it technically a solid.  So, it's hard to reconcile a wet solid.  Regardless, it has been falling for hours, and it's cold enough outside that the accumulation is actually piling up.  It's the first time Troy has seen snow, and he's not quite sure what to make of it.  I hope we get enough that we can go outside and play.  Maybe make a snow angel or a small snowman, like when we were in Missouri.  But if not, at least it will be a cozy, relaxing day together in front of the fire.  Which is ironic, because it hasn't been cold enough for a fire until today when winter is on its way out.

It's days like this that make me miss living in Missouri.  I was one of the few people that enjoyed getting up in the morning and shoveling the snow off my driveway.  I refused to follow in the way of my neighbor, who got a snow blower, because I felt like it would cheapen the rewards of sweating and feeling the flex of my muscles.  The experience was cathartic to me.  I was able to feel a sense of accomplishment and spend some time with God.  I hope Troy can experience the joy of a real snow one day, where he can throw himself into a huge pile of the stuff and feel himself sinking into the fluffy whiteness.

UPDATE:  Well, the snow stopped around lunchtime, and the sun came out.  It didn't take long for the sun's warmth to start melting things.  So, we bundled Troy up and took him outside to experience what little snow we had firsthand.  He loved the crunchy feel and sound of the snow under his shoes.  He loved the cold, crispness of the air.  He wasn't so keen on how cold the snow was in his hand, dropping it as quickly as he grabbed it.  All in all, he enjoyed his first experience.

For fun, we decided to build a Texas snowman.  Despite the fact that he was only about 5 inches tall, he had three balls...bottom, middle, and head.  We put some bark on his head for eyes and some small twigs on for a nose and arms.  So, he was a proper snowman.  We left him outside, but after the sun's heat got to him, he didn't last very long before he toppled over, melted into a puddle, and evaporated altogether.