It's Snow, Man! Just Not Here Yet

   Once upon a time, long ago, 1953, in September a small girl began her school career.
Since she lived on 95th street, which crosses Aurora Avenue in Seattle, she was sent to Oak Lake Elementary. She was barely old enough to be allowed to go to school that year, but her mother had just given birth to baby number four and, well, they needed some way to keep the child occupied.

   Late that fall the class began to be taught a certain song. Possibly this song was the genesis of her constant obsession with snow. It is quite possible that she had never seen real snow. It became magical in her mind. She remembers being so young that she had no idea what coal was. Frosty's eyes were made of coal. Whatever was coal?

   The second verse especially taught her that it is a sorrowful thing when the snow melts!  It was a heartbreaking loss. Rain on snow was impossibly sad.  A green Christmas became a big letdown in spite of the tree with its bubble lights and mystical red ruched cellophane rope, so very beautiful.

Ooh Frosty the snowman
Knew the sun was hot that day
So he said, "Let's run and we'll have some fun
Now before I melt away."
Down to the village
With a broomstick in his hand
Running here and there all around the square
Saying "catch me if you can!"
He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler "Stop!"
Oh, Frosty the snowman
Had to hurry on his way
But he waved goodbye, saying
"Don't you cry, I'll be back again someday."

   But her very young mother, who also loved snow, assured her that snow and snow's magic would come again some winter when she arose from sleep and ran to the windows to check.

   She still waits for snow every Christmas season and still has hope every winter to see the world miraculously transformed in that breathless silent heavenly way.