It snowed today in Happy Valley. Today. October 15. Snow. All day. A couple of inches of heavy, wet, slushy snow.
Normally, I like snow. I appreciate the beauty, the way it covers the land with a blanket of white, the way the world feels and smells when it’s snowing.
But today was a little weird. It’s not supposed to snow in October. This is the earliest snowfall in Centre County ever. Now that’s impressive, I guess. I stood in the snow watching my son’s 8th grade football team dominate their opponents from Altoona this afternoon, and laughed as the boys slipped and slid on the turf.
The snow is causing some problems in the area. A local high school has postponed their homecoming parade. Paternoville (Penn State students who live outside the stadium in tents before home games) has been shut down. Our church was planning a huge united worship service and fall fest outdoors on our property, but the snow has forced us to switch gears and move inside. As I write this, I’m hearing limbs snap in the woods around us, and imagining the mess I’ll have to clean up in the yard over the next couple of days.
Part of making the most out of a difficult situation is being able to go with the flow. Adaptability is a good thing. Sometimes things go as planned. But every once in a while, the routine is interrupted and we’re forced to face the unexpected.
I’m liking the snow, but I was looking forward to some good afternoons in the woods this fall. I wonder if we’ve rushed right past autumn into winter…and just how many trees are going to be down around town tomorrow.
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