A walk in the snow
I was taking Vinny for a walk down my street the other day following a major snow storm. I was captivated by the wide swath of pristine white that embellished the landscape as far as I could see, and the sheer joy of my white golden retriever immersed in it- as if he was granted a wish that HIS color would rule the day.
As we walked further we came upon a couple of snowmen (one snowman and one snowwoman to be politically correct) which a neighbor had creatively constructed. It brought a smile to my face and a look of perplexity to my canine Vinny.
A few days later we took the same walk – the cold had preserved some of the snow, but much of it had dissipated. It was no longer so pretty as the impact of dirt and pollution had significantly altered its color and composition. And the snowman and woman were now struggling to hang on. It got me thinking.
When we are young we are like the freshly constructed snow people – strong, sturdy, handsome, playful and seemingly impervious to the elements and life’s challenges. But as we age, we wither – we get frailer and smaller, less attractive, less energetic, and less capable of withstanding the forces of nature that wear upon us.
This process ordinarily can take decades and sometimes even a century. But when you’re getting closer to the finish line, it sure can seem like the melting snowman – that it all occurs in a mere blip of time.
A reminder to savor the moments and the simple things – like a walk with the dog in the snow.
