On My Snow Manifest-NO

After the University and city of Richmond bracing itself for snow, I am happy to report that there is, as of yet, NO SNOW.

Now, please, do not misunderstand me.  I am as much a fan of days off, cancelled classes, sleeping in, snowball fights, and hot chocolate as the next Northerner, but I would like to explain something.

I. 
Hate.
Snow.

Not just a little bit.  Most people can sympathize with finding it a bit irritating because it can be a little inconvenient or with finding it less pretty once it's gotten a bit dirty and melty.  But most people tend to look at me a bit strange when I point out that I hate it.

Frozen?  Pretty much my nightmare.  Sorry, Idina.

Someone once pointed out that the people who get really excited about snow are the kids who didn't grow up shoveling it.  I think this is true, to a point, but it's not just the shoveling.

It's the extra layers of socks to keep your feet from getting soaked THROUGH your boots.  It's bundling up like Randy in A Christmas Story just to walk outside (cue the cries of "Ralphie, I can't put my arms down!").  It's the burning sensation in your skin when you finally get back inside and the heat starts to return to your body.  It's the slushy mess of salt and snow that gets on everything.  It's burst pipes and downed trees and bruises from slipping on black ice.

But MOSTLY, it's the fact that it reminds me of days walking a mile, uphill, both ways, in the snow to get to school.

Snow? Bah. Humbug.

Rachel Leigh