brrrr

It was bitter cold here last week.  I pride myself on being from Upstate New York.  Knowing lake-effect snow and having a system when it comes to snow shoveling. Understanding that 4WD won't make a darn bit of difference if you still don't know how to drive in snow. Many weekends of my college years were spend in Oswego, New York where not only was snow a factor but there are constant "trade winds" that will take you down if you aren't careful.  All of that considered; it was bitter cold here last week.

 

So what do you do?  You can cry and whine about it or you can choose to see the beauty.  Appreciate what you don't see when you are complaining of the opposite in mid-July. 

 

 

 

Bentley has never played in snow. This season it hasn't stuck around for more than a day. You can't tell by the pictures but he is only 10 months old.  A puppy still. Just about G's age if you do the math (5.83 dog years) Not that it makes much difference with labs.  They seem to be puppies all their lives. He spent hours running, pouncing and chasing whatever G would throw for him.  And for three days after, he was a sleepy boy.

 

 

 

While that was happening, I spent some time studying and sipping coffee in the warmth of Starbucks.  Although it sounds lovely, I can only take so much of sitting still.  I had brought my camera so I headed down to the water.  While the wind was reminiscent of Oswego and I was probably not dressed as warmly as I should have been, it was still a sight to behold.



I love water.  Oceans, lakes, streams, waterfalls...... There is power and a sense of serenity all wrapped into one.  Couple that with the ice that creaks and pops and structures built to withstand all of those forces.  It's really pretty amazing when you think about all of those things.

 

 

I'm grateful that I took these pictures.  That I stopped to look at these things.  Winter can really beat you up inside.  The lack of sun, the long days spent inside with no desire to experience the chapping of your skin the moment you open the door and the serious about of preparation to make plans to do anything because in all likely hood, there will be another storm in the distance that could change your plans once again. This particular day gave me a chance to appreciate the lull.  The roads were finally clear but the melting hadn't begun yet and the sun cast the most beautiful light on everything it touched. 

 

I often wonder if all of the people rushing from place to place ever stop and look around.  Do they see what I do?  Is my view unique?

 

For ten years, I worked in land development and you have to balance progression with preservation.  I think it's ingrained in me to think this way.  I look down the Hudson and compare it to paintings and in ways it is unchanged which it rather remarkable.  So days like this with these views calm me and renew me.  Taking that extra time to look around and really soak in the depth of what I see and feel.

 

So when G and Bentley are playing in the snow, I see experiences that will form them.  They will remember this feeling forever, even if they can't put their finger on it.  It will become part of their perception of all other things in their lives.