Its snowing outside right now. The flakes are quite large and fluffy and its coming down reasonably heavily. The snowfall is heavy enough that its altering the “color” of the air to a mist-like whiteness. Its blanketing everything in its path in its generic whiteness. It dampens sounds and one feels like they are being separated from the rest of the world by the snow’s insulative isolation.
I’ve noticed that even on busy week days, snow like this will still create this feeling. The isolation does not induce loneliness, though. Its more of a protective coating that sheilds one from the normal hustle and bustle of the human world. On a weekend like this day, though, most activity slows down and only those who really have to get out of their homes venture to do so.
So, why is it that the potential real isolation of a heavy snowfall brings comfort instead of fear? Is it because we equate fluffy snowflakes with fuzzy soft toys or pets? Is it because it forces us to slow down? Is it because snowfall deadens the sharp sounds, dulling reality? Or, is it something more metaphysical in that its covering up of the dirty ground causes a latent triggering of some primitive inner cathartic mechanism that we don’t normally have access to? Why does a blanket of snow feel like a fresh start?
I wish I had snowfall here where I live.
On second thoughts, scratch that. It would probably be grey and sooty here instead of white and fluffy.
You know you’re right. I’ve never really thought about it, but when we do get them big fluffy snowfalls with no wind, the sounds are dampened.
It is actually quite surreal, and I actually like it.
Gets rid of all the noise from the cars and the city’s ambient sounds. It’s sorta’ like being inside your very own little room filled with fluffy blankets around the walls.
Well, heck, Mac said what I was going to. LOL. I wish we got more snow here in our area of North Carolina. It was nice having that snow at my mom’s last week even if it was just a little and melted off right away.
Happy New Year Corey!
Thanks, DL. Back at ya! You know, we just got another foot of the white stuff. Perhaps I’ll get a truck and bring some down for you!
Do I hear “ROAD TRIP!”
That’s the only thing I miss when I lived in Indiana, snow.