Sweet Winter

Winter in Utah can be so delightful, so uplifting, so inspiring! Today was one of those days. The snow started at midday, and continued steadily and quietly on through the evening. Some of my snooty and spoiled relatives on the west coast have lost the appreciation for what a wonderful thing it is to live in snowy Utah in the winter. I love this stuff.

Traffic was slow and cautious; it took me over 30 minutes to get home from work, more than double the normal.


Once home, it was nice to just sit in our quiet and warm home and watch the beauty accumulate outside. Look how nicely the camera flash highlights the falling snowflakes on our back deck:


There's so much to learn, so much to appreciate in a wonderful Utah snowstorm:

1. "Slow down, you move too fast!" If you're not in a hurry, it's fun to drive (especially with 4-wheel drive traction).
   
2. Courtesy helps; drivers watch out for each other.
3. Wonderful invigorating physical exercise in shoveling snow from the driveway and sidewalk (forget the gym!).
4. Be grateful for warm, dry, safe shelter; it's so nice to watch the snow fall from indoors.
   
5. Recognize the blessing of moisture that fills reservoirs and nourishes our valley.
   
6. Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling...
7. There's a pristine purity, a "winter wonderland" beauty in fresh snow.
8. It's wonderful to sleep breathing the cool, invigorating air but lying under the toasty warm covers.