The First Time We Saw Snow

The First Time We Saw Snow

One cold February in a ranch on the outskirts of Arlee, Montana, a man discovered a gift from nature surrounding his home.  It started the memory that became instilled in my mind. 

He opened my bedroom door with a big grin and shouted with glee as he told my brother and me to look outside.  We had just woken up a few minutes before, but our dad’s excited words triggered a curiosity that gave us the boost we needed to get off of our bed.  I ran to our front door, as my older brother followed, and peered through three little rectangular windows, side by side, that showed just enough light through them.  As I looked out, I saw little specks of white powder that glistened as the light touched them floating from the sky. 

 Filled with joy and excitement, my brother and I ran out with just our pajamas and unworn snow boots to touch the first snow we had ever seen.  My brother decided to do what we always saw in movies.  He fell into the snow, and waved his arms around, creating a little snow angel.  Not much later, I was doing the same thing, and soon enough the front yard had little snow angels surrounding it.  We tossed around the fresh snow with nothing but our bare hands.  I could feel my hands going numb and noticed that they had turned a reddish color.

A few minutes passed and I looked towards my house.  I saw that my dad was laughing.  It wasn’t till years later that I knew why he had stood there just laughing at my brother and me.  I shrugged it off while it took place, but I now know that my dad must have had a real treat, when he saw the surprised look on our faces as we realized that the seemingly harmless white powder was cold to the touch. 

When we couldn’t take the cold anymore, our parents signaled for us to come inside for breakfast.  Sure enough, the two of us went outside again, but the second time wearing the right apparel.  We played and laughed, the same way we had when we first came out.  It continued to snow throughout the day, even when we were back in our beds and ready to sleep.  Until this day, it still holds the record of the deepest snow I had ever seen in my life. 

It’s a memory that not many people would ever have but it’s also a memory that people wished they could experience.  Although it seems like nothing now, that day was something I had dreamed and wished for as a young kid.  Now, I have grown to be used to the snow and don’t find it as exciting. When winter comes and it begins to snow, I just look at it as normal-typical day.   Of course, I won’t be able to experience the first time I saw snow fall from the sky again, but the moment will always be painted in my mind.