The snow is gently falling on Chicagoland this morning, and it won't stop anytime soon.
It is our first test of the season. The kind that checks your patience more than your muscles. Because around here, winter doesn’t win, it just takes its turn.
Joni had it right... you can look at snow from both sides. Today’s storm can be a gift. It will moisture the fields need, a blanket for the earth, a fresh coat that makes even the ugly parts of Chicago look magical. It can be an excuse to feel a little joy, to go sledding, cross-country skiing, or even skitching like we did when we were young and stupid.
Or
You can take the other angle. You can gripe about the roads, the procrastinated snowblower, the salt chewing up your car, or the fact that every shovel in Cook County feels like it wants to send you into cardiac arrest. It’s all there if you want to see it in a negative way.
But today, I’m choosing the better side of the coin. I am taking the beauty. This snowfall sets the stage for December. A perfect opening act for Christmas lights, warm houses, and deeper breaths.
If I’m feeling ambitious and it isn't canceled, I might hop on the CTA Christmas Train. If I feel lazy, I will stay inside and decorate. Either way, I should probably grab some eggnog and brandy before the shelves look like Sox Park during a bad season.
Vivaldi’s Winter is already playing in the background, the first pot of coffee is percolating, and Big Al, the French Algerian, is whispering the truth we all forget:
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
So feel the warmth, Chalkheads.
Step outside and taste the November snowflakes.
