Snow and cold

I reached campus yesterday in time to find a closer parking spot, smoke a cigarette, and print some things out in the computer lab. The sunshine made the sky and all that it touched deceptively inviting. I found myself smiling as I drove to campus, feeling grateful for a vehicle that provided relatively safe and warm travel. Once I parked, nearly at the corner across from the building, I lit a cigarette and resolved not,to have another one until I returned home. It was just silly to go out in these temperatures to try to enjoy a smoke. So I texted Deb, and gathered my things, and then she said classes were canceled. I got an email moments later from my professor and then from the university and then another classmate. All these forms of technology alerting me to the fact that I did not need to be on campus. Thoughts of the cozy warmth I had reluctantly departed made me feel a little less annoyed about the gas I'd wasted. At least I could return to my sanctuary.

As I drove home, I was careful of the patches of road covered by snow drifts. Near one curve, the snow had built up, rising to a cliff whose edge curled smoothly over the road. I watched a gust of wind blow across the snow-cliff and was hypnotized by the sparkling whisps of snow and air that came spilling over the road. On the way to class, near town, a swirl of snow rose up and spun into the trees like a ghost, dissipating into the dry brown rows of sleeping trees. So there were two instances of snow dancing witnessed because of this pointless use of gasoline.

The second did cause me to reach for my phone, but as I did I checked the rearview and saw a car behind me. Not wishing to miss anyone off or cause an accident, I refrained from trying to take a picture of this snow phenomenon. But I had noticed it. Enough that it's still here on my mind. Providing an image and memory of something soothing and simple and beautiful.