This winter seems to be almost like the old fashioned winters of my youth, when the temperatures dropped to -20 or -30 in the upper peninsula of my Michigan. I remember how we used to go and wait for the school bus, in our "bus shack" and stamping our feet so that they did not freeze as we watched for that big orange school bus. Sometimes, when it was late, we would turn and head towards home only to look back and it was coming, so we made a quick turn around and ran to catch the ride to school.
It hardly seems that it was so long ago and the years have flown by, but thankfully we can conjure up in our minds the wonderful memories of yesteryear, and it seems like yesterday.
Yesterday, we went to the Fairgrounds where many large snow carvings were on display from the Winter Carnival events. They were amazing! There was a large snow maze there which , children of 
all ages, were wandering through. I remember how , when we we kids, dad would build a big snow igloo from blocks of hard snow that he cut with a shovel. It was really warm inside of those snow houses all protected from wind and cold. When we got older, we would dig our own snow tunnels and forts. There was always something, in the line of fun, to do in winter, that never costed us any money. Snow forts, sledding, ice fishing, snowmen, snowball fights etc. The wonderful realm of imagination thrives in the minds of children, making everyday an adventure.
all ages, were wandering through. I remember how , when we we kids, dad would build a big snow igloo from blocks of hard snow that he cut with a shovel. It was really warm inside of those snow houses all protected from wind and cold. When we got older, we would dig our own snow tunnels and forts. There was always something, in the line of fun, to do in winter, that never costed us any money. Snow forts, sledding, ice fishing, snowmen, snowball fights etc. The wonderful realm of imagination thrives in the minds of children, making everyday an adventure.Aside from the fun of winter sports and play, the best part to me was to be able to go indoors and savor the warmth of a pot belly stove and warm the innards with a cup of hot cocoa topped with a big, puffy white marshmallow, which sat like foam on a chocolate sea.
Those by gone days provide warm memories because we shared them in a close knit family . We were used to the harsh weather and knew how to deal with it because it was part of everyday life. This year, there are more ice and snow storms presenting themselves in places where people have not experienced them and there is nothing fun about it for them. The world has become a different place, in so many ways, yet children will always find ways to have fun and build their own memories for future days to come. With February underway now, and the sun becoming higher in the sky, I am gradually letting thoughts of springtime emerge into my thoughts, like the first crocuses that brighten our days after winter snows start to dwindle into the warming earth. Time to think Spring!!
