There’s always something magical about the first snow of the season — something that makes me nostalgic for winters passed. Something that makes me long for pink cheeks and sledding and hot chocolate with little marshmallows.
Something that makes it okay to go outside on the front porch in the middle of the night with my husband in fuzzy pink snowflake and blue polar bear pajama pants (mine, his, respectively) to take pictures.
The snow crept up on me this year. I’d been expecting it since September — this is Buffalo, after all, home of the Lake Effect and the Blizzard of ’77. But the weather has been relatively calm since our early October arrival. Balmy, even. Last week we were still in the 70s, sunny, happy, nary a cloud in sight. So I found myself both surprised and delighted when Alex (yes, Alex of the polar bear pants) interrupted my evening procrastination to tell me about the first snow. And it’s a good one, too — perfect crystal snowflakes floating and twirling to the ground like a thousand tiny ballerinas.
Frozen ballerinas with chapped lips and runny noses whose mothers should have made them wear pants under their pink tutus like mine would have done, but ballerinas nevertheless.
Winter is coming — my first in Buffalo in 11 years. And I can’t wait!
Top 10 Things I’m Most Excited About for Winter in Buffalo, 2008 Version
- The annual driving ban when we can enjoy the neighborhood on foot (snowshoes optional) as all traffic is suspended due to 4 feet of snow with nowhere to go.
- Aforementioned hot chocolate, now with ginger, spicy hot pepper, and other secret ingredients for an added kick. Bailey’s may or may not be one of the secret ingredients, but since it’s a secret, I can’t tell you! Shhh! *hiccup*
- Our first ever family Thanksgiving hosted in our home. By us. With family members attending. Extra Bailey’s — check.
- Annual Thanksgiving weekend Lord of the Rings trilogy extended version movie marathon, in which Alex (yes, Alex of the polar bear pants) and I watch all three films back to back, eating nachos and drinking wine the entire twelve or so hours.
- Watching kids in the neighborhood fall down in their puffy, immovable snowsuits, which I’m pretty sure Buffalo invented. The snowsuits, not the falling down. Speaking of falling down, bartender, more Bailey’s?
- Silk Soy Holiday Nog.
- Christmas carolers — a singer I am not, but I do hope we get some. Do people still carol? If not, could someone please come to our house, ring the doorbell, and sing?
- Starbucks Caramel Apple Cider. In New York State, they use real apple cider and not just apple juice that they heat up and call cider.
- Saving a snowball or two in the freezer and not looking at it again until summer, and of course —
- Christmas music! I loves my Christmas music! It drives Alex (yes, Alex of the polar bear pants) crazy, but not me. I love it. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard Etta James do Silent Night.
What are you guys looking forward to this winter?
I’m not sure if Thanksgiving or Christmas comes next. I was just at the mall and they were playing Christmas music, for Christ’s sake. Okay, so yeah, literally it is for Christ’s sake, but I think you get my meaning.
Oh and, if you were (cough) in Colorado, you’d still be enjoying 60 degree days. 8P
Cool pic and Im psyched about the snow. Nothing beats a Buffalo winter. Also I just ran out of Baileys so if you don’t mind maybe you can put some in a little tupperware container and help your baby bro out.
If there is a storm over night tonight and the power goes out we meet at your place at noon and tie our mittens to strings so that we don’t loose them. Lastly, I need a new immovable snow suit mine ripped last year.
Well come on home..to Colden, NY the Snow capatial of the South towns. You know I got Hot Chocolate..and Hot Cider and of course Baileys. I am pretty sure I still have all your snowsuits! I think I still have the Yellow one and the blue laundry basket sled for you Sarah! The red and cream colored one with the snowman on the bib that all three of you wore. And how about all them Starter Jackets!! Many pairs of mittens on strings or you know we can cut old socks and pull them up over your wrists so when your mittens get all snow laided your wrists are still protected and warm!! Remember that Jack Frost hat You lost in Nursery school on Gunthers hill only to turn up in first grade at Union Pleasent!!So come on up Play out side for a while and then come in and sit by the woodburnning stove and warm up! I got cookies!!! Oh ya bring some snow shovels..the snow blower is broke!!
Snow in Morrison Colorado this afternoon, Permits go on sale today at Golden Gate Canyon State Park for the family tree cut on December 6-7, the best family activity at the park. The autumn sky is turning into the winter configuration and watch out on November 30 when Venus and Jupiter are only several fingertips apart in the southwestern sky at dusk. Sparks will fly in the camps of the astrologers!
wow SOMEBODY has been away from buffalo for far too long. magical? perfect? can’t wait? what kind of drugs are you doing, and can i get some? maybe if i’m in a sudafed daze for the next 8 months this bullshit won’t be as depressing and interminable as i (and your more rational side – don’t worry, it will kick in soon) know it will be.
Spring!!!
Love ya
Dad
I’ll show up and sing – but I’m not sure you’ll feel particularly Christmasy when I do my rendition of Darling Nikki.