Here in D.C., it’s sunny and clear in the Land of Unsnow. Up north, it’s wall-to-wall snow; it’s our Snowmageddon of a few years ago times two.

The unsnow moved into the D.C. area early this morning and blanketed everything in…bright sunshine. Here’s my car covered in a thick layer of unsnow. It took me hours to clear it off.

There’s something invigorating, adventurous and enchantingly childlike (unless you’re stranded in an airport) about large amounts of fresh snowfall. It blankets everything, causing the familiar to take on new shape, adding beauty to where there was nothing but blandness. Best of it all, it brightens the tired, dreary winter landscape, whitening an otherwise gray, drab day.

It gets you outside, talking to neighbors, digging out cars, shoveling driveways. Working up a sweat, going inside to warm up with hot cocoa and then returning to dig some more. Sledding down hillsides. Taking walks. And, yes, if you are foolish enough, slipping and sliding along unplowed roads and biting your nails all the way.

Here in D.C., we’ve received a grand total of 1.5” of snow this year, continuing our “snow drought” of 744 days.

So we watch on TV or read online about the storm in New England, living vicariously the wonder, awe and shock of three feet of snow! Three feet of snow!

Of course, there is the cleanup, the power outages, closings, pileups on the Interstates and, sadly, a few deaths. Our hearts go out to everyone affected; but I have to say, a little part of me is disappointed. Where’s our snow?

Dust of (Un)Snow

The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of (un)snow
From a hemlock tree

Has given my heart
A change of mood
(I’ll go to Walmart,
Look at shovels…and brood.)

– Robert (Un)Frost