Smell of Snow

There is something about the smell of a fresh snow that takes me back to my childhood, and makes my stomach churn.
A couple nights ago it happened when I took the dogs out. The cold, fresh air tickled my nostrils and WHAM memories of me plowing through the snow to get to elementary school.

I know what you're thinking, kids love snow, and although I do appreciate the beauty of it now, I didn't then. For some reason every snowfall I remember seemed like several feet deep but maybe that's what several inches felt like because I was much smaller then.

My mom would bundle me up and then wrap me in a scarf that had to be 50 feet long. All that was exposed were my eyes and only if my stocking cap didn't slip down. My boots were the big moon boots that weighed about 30 lbs each and every step took a huge effort. Heavy of course, but also if I didn't step correctly my boot could be sucked off in a large drift of snow. I would be stuck balancing on one leg and of course my sock would be teetering on the brink of my toes. Oh this wasn't the worse of it though. I usually had to walk alone. Yes, feel sorry for me. lol

All my friends lived far enough that they came by bus or my best friend lived right across the street from the school. I however lived 60 hilly miles away. Ok, maybe it was 10 flat blocks but those snow drifts were huge. So still to this day when I smell fresh snow my mind goes back to those days. I guess I should either make new snow memories or move to a much warmer climate.

The memories weren't all bad though. After awhile I was adopted by a pack of wolves...wait, wait this part isn't a total lie! Maybe they were dogs but they accepted me into their pack and most importantly, kept me company during the rest of my wintery walks.