It is everywhere. It is consuming my thoughts and triggering every emotion.
When the snow came early I imagined it would get warmer and melt away. I was hopeful, but found myself disappointed whenever the weather forecast changed and the white stuff fell.
There have already been times I have been angered by the restrictions placed on my travel by the road conditions. The other night between storm and snowplows I headed out on the highway with some furniture in the back of my husband's truck. I put it into 4X4 and kept my speed below 80 kilometres per hour. I felt confident driving. There were drifts, but I didn't feel like I was in any danger until I was passed and lost all visibility.
It was terrifying to be caught in the cloud of snow causing a complete white-out and I admit to swearing with no apology to my children. I slowed right down hoping I wouldn't slide into the ditch. One of the vehicles passing me at high speed was a tow truck. I imagined I'd be his next customer and I'd forever blame him. Another vehicle zipped past and within minutes it was lodged into a snow bank in the ditch between the north and south bound lanes.
The morning after the heavy snow I was feeling strong and independent, shoveling snow for almost two hours. The driveway and sidewalks had drifts of 30 centimetres. It was hard work, but I looked at it as a job and an exercise work out.
The next day, I found myself on the verge of tears many times as my back and arms screamed out to me in pain and stiffness. I found myself even more grateful for the neighbours, who did the last bits with snow blowers, glad I hadn't been too proud or stupid to accept their generosity and technology.
The scene has been beautiful. Trees and housetops are iced with sparkles and Christmas lights seem to glow softly instead of twinkling. The clean white landscapes are awe inspiring. There is also excitement in the air as friends and family members talk about skiing both downhill and cross-country. Knowing the local ski hill is open has some of us giddy, looking forward to days off enjoying the runs and the amazing snow. I've even experienced guilt as I drove past a car spinning on ice perpendicular to the road it was travelling, thinking I should stop and help ,but not knowing of a safe place to stop or stand.
I'm on an emotional roller coaster and this is going to be a long winter.
