First Freeze

Driving on the highway, I take notice of the wind. The unseen element transitions into view as small particles lift in its wake. The patterns and path of the winds become apparent as the salt and snow take its shape. Like serpents slithering along the asphalt, I see the wind in motion and stillness.
I walk through the park with the grass crackling beneath my shoes. Rubber sole to frozen soil, so foreign to me. Winter brings a deep sleep to the earth. I wonder how anything survives through this unrelenting cold.
Skaters glide across a frozen pond. I watch in disbelief thinking of the awful stories I have heard about ice breaking and hypothermia. Families are playing hockey. I skated once or twice many years ago at an ice rink in Florida but never imagined it under blue skies surrounded by trees and rolling hills. I can’t contain the excitement.
I trepidatiously step on to the frozen water. I see clearly through the ice to the bottom along the edge of the pond. As I walk out further towards the center, I gain more confidence and quicken my pace to build momentum. My heart races and a smile takes shape as I stop in place and my boots glide over the ice. I feel out the balance and repeat over and over again. This is happiness.
So many complaints about shoveling snow and scraping windshields, but no one ever bothered to mention what it feels like to slide across the ice. It certainly is frustrating to have frozen washer fluid and dirty windshields but I would trade it any day for the joy of gliding boots across a frozen pond.