A Patch of Old Snow

A Patch of Old Snow is a poem of Robert Frost's. It reminded me of a tidbit of a story my husband told the children this evening. Many years ago, on our honeymoon to the NC mountains, I saw snow for the first time. The highlight (as far as my husband tells it) was that I fell on my backside. That's the only info our kids got out of that story. A quick ha-ha all around and we were on to the next topic.

What they didn't hear was how excited I was to see that patch of old snow. One might say I was as excited as a child, but a child wouldn't have all those years of longing to see snow built up. I, as a woman in my early 30's, did. They didn't know that this was my first trip to the mountains. The MOUNTAINS! MOUNTAINS! and SNOW! I was prepared; a heavy jacket borrowed from my mother-in-law and a quick stop at the local Wal-Mart for snow gloves and I could handle anything. Ken pulled off the road and out the door I ran to that patch of snow - and down I went - onto that patch of (slippery) snow! Needless to say my new husband was getting a good laugh from my exuberance.

I wish they could feel the crisp, cold air I remember from that day. See the way the sun was shining making everything appear to sparkle in its light. Feel the excitement at finally seeing something you'd waited all your life for. All of this on top of the joy of being a newlywed on a carefree adventure! The laughter, the love!

So, while it's true I did slip and fall in the snow, it was worth it!

For those of you who stuck around for all of this here's a treat...

-A Patch of Old Snow -
by Robert Frost

There's a patch of old snow in a corner
That I should have guessed
Was a blow-away paper the rain
Had brought to rest.

It is speckled with grime as if
Small print overspread it,
The news of a day I've forgotten--
If I ever read it.