First Snowfall

On Wednesday, the temperature was just shy of 70 degrees. Today, the trees are laden with heavy wet snow. The forthysia has big balls of snow clinging to its branches. It looks like a giant cotton plant ready for picking.

Just like that - the world around me is transformed from one season of life into another. Almost as dramatic as the southern tip of Chile where the sun shone in blue skies, it rained, the fog came in, and there was a bit of snow in the air - all within an hour's time.

Some days, the news seems a repeat of yesterday's news, and last week's, and last year's . . . Disasters, wars, invasions, violence, political differences, greed. The list is long. It makes a person wonder if humans are hard-wired to never grow up. Where is the transformation that might move humanity to another season of life? When will we learn to live with each other in peace and compassion?

Over dinner, a friend shared his anguish over a NPR call-in radio show in which many callers declared no medical care should be provided to those who "are not useful." The instance being discussed was about a child with severe health issues. I wondered if those callers would include all those elder members of our society in nursing homes. Would they just wheel them out to the curb and leave them to die?

Then it snows. Big heavy flakes. And I ask myself what does it mean "to be useful." I suppose the snow would qualify as useful since it has not rained for weeks. It also is useful by providing seasonal work for those charged with snow removal and selling snow-blowers. At the same, I imagine many folks around town are entranced with the beauty of the first snow. Does beauty qualify as useful?


Lake Superior

 Sometimes my life has been touched by someone who will never realize what they have given me. It may as fleeting as the sudden smile on an infant's face as their parent carries the baby past me. Like the soft touch of snowflakes on my face. I'd certainly call that useful.