I am ready to be done with winter; although it is just getting started. We are currently in the middle of what the meteorologist called “an extended snow event”, where it snowed just a little, remained cold and cloudy, and then snowed a little more. Repeat. We had a similar event a few weeks ago. Snow arrived early this year – before Halloween – and in this part of the country we cannot be assured of its departure until the middle of May. Granted, there are a lot of people who like snow, even spring snows. They are the snow sportsmen – skiers, snowshoe enthusiasts, and snowmobilers. They are not gardeners.
This winter may bring much wanted snow to the ski areas, but with COVID and the resulting quaranteens, business closures, and financial loss to many, it is possible that the ski resorts will struggle to remain open. This is good news for the animals and birds that reside in those snow covered mountains. With any luck, their snowy habitat will be unencumbered by humans and snowmobiles. They may possibly have some peace and greater access to their food sources. They may be able to cross the road without fear of being run over.
It seems that there remains almost no areas of our planet where humans have not encroached, robbing millions of other species their right to life. Too many people feel that this planet belongs to them alone. If I knew the snow could stop the stripping of mountains, to create playgrounds for the rich, I would welcome the snow. If I knew it could put a stop to the endless greed and selfishness that has been prevalent in most of the 7 billion humans occupying space here, I would not resist it.
There once was a time when winter urged us to slow down. We could pause for a time during a winter storm and simply enjoy the silence and the serenity. Before cars and a plethora of machines were invented, there was only the crackling of the fire in the hearth and the quiet sounds of breathing as people contentedly sipped their tea.
