“Walking in a Winter Wonderland”

So, it wasn’t exactly a Christmas miracle, but I did get my own winter wonderland. We got hit with 9 inches of snow, and let me tell you, that’s a ton where I’m from—almost too much. It sent the whole city, actually the whole state, into a frenzy. I admit, I chuckled a bit at everyone losing their minds over it. Work shut down before the snow even started, grocery stores were wiped clean, and folks were dragging out generators, fueling them up, just in case it snowed. Then it hit me why they were freaking out. I’m from almost the Canadian border, born in the dead of winter, so snow is no big deal to me. Subzero temps, with or without windchill, were just part of life, and we had snow plows, salt trucks, and all that jazz to prep the roads. But here, they don’t have that, so I got why they were panicking. Growing up in Wisconsin, snow was the highlight of my winter every year. I do think, though, with global warming, we’re seeing less snow each year. Not sure if that’s really the cause, but I’m blaming it. There’s just something magical about snow falling before the plows come out early in the morning, usually around 5 AM or earlier. It’s so beautiful and peaceful. Once the plows do their thing, it’s not as pretty—just dirty and sandy. But for the last three days, everyone’s been grinning ear to ear. People who’ve never seen snow before were thrilled with just 9 inches of non-packable snow, trying to build snowmen and making their first snow angels. Families spent time together, playing with their kids. Traffic was calm, no blaring car horns or sirens, just quiet family moments. In this economy, most families have both parents working, so it’s tough to have a stay-at-home parent, but during the storm, kids got more than a couple of hours with their parents. My kids are grown and have their own places, so I didn’t get that family time, which made me miss when they were little. Back then, we were in Texas, where snow was rare, so no snow days. In Fort Bragg, we had a few snow days, but they didn’t shut everything down. Stores stayed open, so it wasn’t as family-focused when it snowed. But having some time off work and with family, or just alone time, was really nice, and I appreciated the snowfall in ways Southerners might not get. One of my favorite memories of a big snowstorm was when I was about nine or ten, living with my grandma. My uncle, still in high school, had the whole upstairs as his room, and there was like 8 feet of snow. Some of it was drift, but enough that we opened his window, took off the screen, and jumped into the snow pile. I can still hear my grandma yelling at us, and she wasn’t a loud person. Her yelling was like most people’s normal voice, so for her to be mad enough that we heard her all the way outside, you know she was ticked. But my uncle and I didn’t care; it was worth it. The snow was cold, but inside the pile, it felt warm because of the insulation. I’ll never forget that, or her yelling, but it was so worth it. She didn’t stay mad for long. I bet we had hot cocoa after, even though she got upset about us being soaking wet and tracking snow everywhere. She always made us stop at this little spot she called Nikki’s Landing to take off our wet shoes and gear before going inside. Those snow memories are the best. And this week, some kids got to make their own. There wasn’t enough snow to jump from windows, but plenty for snowmen and snow angels, and I’m grateful for that. Everyone should enjoy snow at least once. I miss skiing, snowmobiling, ice-skating—all the stuff you can’t do when it’s hot all year. But I’ve also gotten to the age where I don’t want to shovel the driveway or scrape ice off my car windows. So, it’s a love-hate thing. It’s nice to see the snow, and it’s nice to see it go.

I don't have little kids to play in the snow with anymore, but I've got a puppy who was all bark and growl when he first saw the snow falling or on the ground. Once he figured it out, he went nuts, bouncing around like a little bunny. I couldn't keep him out of it! But today, he went outside to find just muddy, melted snow. He looked around, did his business, and came back to the door like, "Hey, it's cold and the snow's gone. Let me in." My older dog, who's from Wisconsin, usually loves snow but wasn't feeling it this time. I think the cold was too much for his old bones.

I was like a kid on Christmas Eve, staying up until 3 AM, hoping for snow. Where I live, it's rare, so I was thrilled when it actually happened. But I couldn't stop thinking about the homeless and stray animals out there, not used to these temperatures. What did they do? It must've been terrifying for them. I know there were warming stations set up, like at civic centers and churches, but what if people couldn't get there? How would they even know about them without access to news?

It's sad to think that I couldn't just drive around and help people out, like a little shuttle service. The cold doesn't hit us often, but extreme heat can be just as bad. I wish there was a better system to help those in need. I don't know if the police were helping or what, but there were no buses, taxis, or Ubers running.

I'm grateful for those who opened their doors and donated food and blankets, but why can't we have something like this all the time? So many vets and homeless people don't know how to get help. Everyone needs a safe space sometimes, a place to regroup and start over.

I'd love to open a place where people could donate things, and those in need could come get help, take a shower, get warm clothes, and eat. But also have a program where they take classes to improve their situation. It shouldn't be a free-for-all, but a place to help build resumes, find jobs, and eventually become self-sufficient. Kind of like a halfway house but for people who really deserve it. Why can't we do that? Why is everything so broken?

I could go on forever about how messed up the system is, but that's not what this post is about. It's about the joy that snow brought to so many families, and the happiness it brought me when it fell. In 2025, when 9 inches of snow fell in a place where nobody thought it could, it was a big deal. The last time snow like that happened was ages ago. Some might see it as the world ending or say "hell froze over," but I was all for it. I loved it, and I miss it now that it's gone. It's kind of sad knowing that for families, those moments are over, and life will go back to being busy and stressful. Personally, those three snow days were so chill for me. I'm at a point in my life where I feel in-between, so that break was just what I needed. I hope families enjoyed their time together and cherish those memories of when it snowed 9 inches at home. Sure, you can go on a trip to Colorado or up north, but having that snow right in your backyard and making those memories with your kids is something else. I hope they hold onto those moments because I know I will. I've been thinking about starting a place where people can go when they need food, a shower, or clothes that fit. Somewhere safe, without judgment or a bunch of requirements, where they can just reset. A place with computers where someone can help them build a resume, even if it's just for a job at McDonald's or bagging groceries. Somewhere to help them get back on their feet. If something like that happened to me, I have my two little girls to turn to, but not everyone has family they can rely on. Who do they turn to then? We never really know what others are going through, but there should be a place for them to get help. Everyone needs help at some point, and not everyone has someone to turn to. I want to be that person who helps. I know I can't do it alone. I can't cook everything or afford everything for everyone, so I'd need to set up a donation center and get others to help make it happen. It wouldn't just be my dream; it would need to be a team effort to really make a difference in people's lives. Maybe I'm dreaming big, but the best things start with big dreams.

Alright, I'm heading off to bed now. Time to dream big, wake up tomorrow, and make awesome things happen. Have a great week, everyone, and catch you next week! Remember, dream big and make those dreams come true—otherwise, they're just dreams. Make it real!

XOXO,

Heather