Thirteen years later, I'll argue that the magic is still there, even though "snow days" don't really exist any longer in their original form. Like, if I woke up Wednesday morning to eighteen inches of snow, then my university of higher learning would most like just say "classes are online today." It sucks, but hey, at least I'm an adult. Imagine how much that sucks for kids who can't go sledding until their seventh-grade online social studies class lets out at 2:15 PM. Or maybe kids are taking their laptops to the sledding hill? I don't pretend to know what kids these days are doing. I don't have TikTok.
But the magic really is still there! I swear! Even if I'm expected to be in work like it's a regular day, then there's still something special about the city when snow is on the ground. My theory is that it's the quiet that gives the illusion of wonder. The quiet is created by the snow, both in cushioning footfalls and car tires, but also discouraging loud motor vehicles from being on the road at all. The lack of noise is solemn, almost bordering on spiritual.
There was a report a week or so ago that Philadelphia winters will be seeing less and less snow as both the global and local temperatures rise due to climate change. We'll still get some sticky blizzards every once in a while, but the snowfall won't be as prevalent as it was in my youth. I do regret that, for my own children's sake, as I fear they won't feel that same freedom and solemnity and joy that I did whenever it snowed. But I am determined and I am committed to keeping the magic alive. Snow days are important to the psychological development of children, even when the idea of a "snow day" morphs and changes alongside the earth's own changes.
And so, an official prediction: It's going to snow on Christmas this year. Let the children (and the child within me) rejoice. Mark it on the calendar, baby.
There was a report a week or so ago that Philadelphia winters will be seeing less and less snow as both the global and local temperatures rise due to climate change. We'll still get some sticky blizzards every once in a while, but the snowfall won't be as prevalent as it was in my youth. I do regret that, for my own children's sake, as I fear they won't feel that same freedom and solemnity and joy that I did whenever it snowed. But I am determined and I am committed to keeping the magic alive. Snow days are important to the psychological development of children, even when the idea of a "snow day" morphs and changes alongside the earth's own changes.
And so, an official prediction: It's going to snow on Christmas this year. Let the children (and the child within me) rejoice. Mark it on the calendar, baby.
No comments:
Post a Comment