I grew up in Wisconsin, where the winters were cold and produced real, honest-to-God snow. Snow, white and fluffy when it first fell softly under the warm glow of the street lamps. I would watch the winter wonderland come to life from my frosted bedroom window. Sitting tucked cozy in bed I could see the snowflakes fall in dizzy circles to the ground, accumulating into soft mounds, which of course would later produce treacherous frozen roads and sidewalks. There is just something fabulous about real life snow. We have all heard "White Christmas" a million times too many, but there is a reason that the song became so popular. The image of snow on Christmas evokes a lot of lovely romanticized images. Woollen hats and mittens, red noses, hot chocolate and children sledding.
There is no white Christmas in Oakland. For the most part I appreciate the lack of ice and sub-zero weather, but on Christmas, I want a little cozy. It's just not Christmas in 60 degrees with green grass.
Oakland tries, sort of. There are some holiday decorations coming up, but it all seems a little ...silly. Take for example Rockridge Snow Day. Perhaps they should have named it, Sad Day. Or Lame Day. We didn't know what to expect when we arrived to the Rockridge neighborhood. I read that there would be snow, entertainment and food. What was it? A slab of melting ice covered snow in the parking lot underneath the Bart station. The kids were milling about on the ice/snow trying to figure out what they were suppose to do. Growing up in a land where snow was plentiful, this little display was PATHETIC. Not to mention it also seemed silly to be drinking hot apple cider on an ice-tea kind of day. I also have to note that Rockridge Snow Day was home to the saddest little Santa that I have ever laid my eyes on. Not only did he lack charisma, he also looked terrible. His wig was falling off, his tummy was lumpy, it was awful. Zachary and Evan looked confused and asked me if this was the real Mr. C, and I assured them that it wasn't.
I know that I should be grateful that I no longer have to worry about the inside of my nose freezing, and I am, but I do miss my chilly holiday.
I grew up with lots of snow too (in Chicago) and miss those real winters and white christmases!!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in So. California...so I have never really known snow....but, I know enough to understand that this experience was, indeed, sad...
ReplyDeleteCertainly no substitute for the real thing...
My Hubby takes our daughter up to the San Bernardino mountains to see the snow (and this just amounts to larger piles of dirty, icy coldness) but, at least, she can make snowballs and a small snowman before she decides it's too cold to play anymore...I say he takes her, because I don't enjoy being that cold either...
I'm such a wimp...if I can't be comfortable in my jeans...it's either too cold or too hot! Lol!
I HATE SNOW. I WILL HATE IT FOREVER AND EVER AND EVER. WE PAY MUCHO DINEROS TO GET THAT GOD AWFUL STUFF REMOVED FROM OUR SIDEWALK, CURB CUTS, AND DRIVEWAY AFTER THE CITY PLOW DUMPS THREE FEET OF ICEBERG SNOW DURING THE PLOWING THAT TAKES PLACE AT 3 a.m. NOT TO MENTION THE TEO INCH THICK LAYER OF SOLID ICE THAT FORMS ON THE SIDEWALK THAT DAVID AND I REMOVE BYSTANDING OUTSIDE IN SUBZERO TEMPS CHOPPING AWAY WITH AN ICE PICK. IF WE DON'T REMOVE it, THE CITY WILL GIVE US A TICKET.
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