Monday Musings Let It Snow!

Good morning from a snow-covered Washington, D.C., TSFers! We woke up to about 4–5 inches of snow today—though I haven’t officially measured yet—and are expecting that total to double (or more) by the time the storm moves out this evening.

I’ve always loved snow. As a kid, it meant snowball fights, sledding, building snowmen, and, of course, a day off from school. What’s not to love? As an adult, I still enjoy it—snow is beautiful and brings a refreshing change of pace. Even shoveling can feel like a satisfying workout. My love for snow is probably rooted in those joyful childhood memories, and I imagine it’ll deepen once I have kids of my own to share it with. For now, I get a glimpse of that joy through Gunner, my rescue pup, who absolutely loves playing and frolicking in the snow.

Over the years, I’ve experienced five of the top 10 snowiest storms in D.C.’s history. The biggest in my lifetime was in 2016, which dropped about 18 inches in the suburbs where I lived. That storm wasn’t particularly fun—36 hours without power in freezing temperatures was rough. By contrast, the similarly sized storm of 2010 was far more enjoyable. My dad and I braved about two miles of deep snow to reach the Metro for a Washington Capitals game, where we watched Alex Ovechkin score a hat trick against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Another memorable storm was the Blizzard of ’96, when I was nine years old. I still remember posing for a photo at my parents’ house, standing in waist-deep snow they’d dug out around me to highlight just how much we got.

What big snowstorms have you experienced in your lifetime? I’d love to hear your stories!