It rarely snows in San Antonio. Last time I saw real snow here I was a kid back in ’85. Now I have seen plenty of snow in my lifetime. And I am pretty much over it. You pretty much get over it when you have to walk across the MIT campus during winter because Sloan isn’t accessible by the underground tunnels. Or the 20th time you have to dig your car out in Somerville to move it to the other side of the street or risk it being towed. But when it snows here in San Antonio it’s special. I can’t help but recall that snow day in ’85.
Wool Hat
My brother and I got all bundled up really to go outside. Back then we had no Northface outerwear (at least we didn’t), nor did we have a moisture management base layer, insulating mid layer or weather protecting outer layer. We had on a sweater with a windbreaker over it, jeans, tennis shoes, gloves and a wool cap with that silly bob on its end. You stay warm as long as the wind doesn’t hit you.
We went outside and I remember seeing white ice going up about half way up the stairs to the porch. Not very snow like at all. So we stepped into the ice and swoosh goes our leg into the ice. There was a little over a foot of snow beneath the ice. We of course proceeded to break up all the ice in the front yard and destroy the peacefulness of it all.
Snow On The Dog Igloo
Next we tried building a snowman. Of course we have never actually seen one in real life so the task ended up being harder than we thought. There was no way we where going to get nice round snowman parts. At some point we gave up and simply packed snow into roundish like objects; a big one for the lower body, a medium one for the tummy and the small one for a head. The snowman’s arms where made of some old branches that had survived the annual burning of the dead tree branches in the back yard in a big trash can. No carrot for us– we tried but our mom had those set aside for the caldo for dinner. As for the eyes we threw on some sunglasses, the snowman was in Texas after all.
I’d like to think our snowman lasted a while but I doubt it. He was probably gone by that afternoon. Hopefully tonight’s snow lasts a bit longer.
Twitter
Facebook
email
Google Bookmarks
Google Buzz
LinkedInNo related posts.
One Comment
That’s a nice story and i’m glad you can still get excited for snow in San Antonio. i didn’t think i would get this excited but i am. The snow is so pretty and the added benefit of not getting into work until noon is awesome!
i remember ’85 and we also didn’t have snow gear so my mom’s improvise was to put plastic wrap or sandwich plastic bags over our hands & feet before we put our socks on so our feet didn’t get wet. she also had us put on an extra shirt and pant underneath the sweater & coat. We had enough snow to do angels and to have a snow ball fight.
Here’s to another SA snow memory.