Winter is a melancholy season, there is something romantic about the snow. The way it falls on the trees, and on the street lights. It makes a town glow. Of course you aren't really enjoying the first snow of the year unless you have a jazz c.d. on play and a glass of hot chocolate. The two just seem to jive together.

Let's face it; It's a Wonderful Life wouldn't have had so much pizzazz if it had been filmed in Florida. The beautiful Christmas songs of Louie Armstrong, and Tony Bennett would be lacking if they sang about surfing instead of snow.

Laying out and watching the flakes fall from the sky is a very peaceful experience, especially when the Northern Lights are included. It is peaceful; even mesmerizing. It makes me feel optimistic.

The onset of the seasons first snow storm means summer is finally over, and it is time to take a break from the fast pace of summer time. It is time to hunker down and take it easy with hot chocolate, a good book, and an oversized blanket. It is time to hibernate.

As a kid the first snow meant Dad would soon be practicing his dare devil tricks on the snowmobile; Mom would be getting out the Christmas record collection; Grandpa would start making our sledding hill atop his firewood pile; and Grandma would make her delicious peanut butter fudge. It meant we could go ice skating while Dad was ice fishing.

To this day, there is nothing more fun than being outside in 0 degree weather, with all the snow gear on. Being toasty warm while digging into the snow and making an igloo is a great feeling.

Many people up North use wood stoves. Kicking on the wood stove inevitably means your house will either be forty degrees, or ninety degrees. You don't have much control. The smell however, is absolutely delicious.

The first snowstorm meant soon relatives would be coming up to Northern Lower Michigan to go snowmobiling with the family and stay at Grandma's house. Of course my sister and I couldn't miss out on the action; we stayed at Grandma's to visit our kin. All the kids would camp out on Gram and Gramps floor. Anyone was welcome in their home, and they were always accommodating. It always seemed a celebration when someone new would come up to visit. They both put a lot of value on family time, and maintaining relationships, especially in the seasons that left us scrunched in together.

Looking back I am sure the first snowstorm meant something different to my parents. It meant less time for us to go out and play. They made certain we had new snow gear every year. They wanted us to be out of the house as much as possible, I am sure! Winter is a good, six months out of the year in Kalkaska, and can tend to drive parents up a wall. As a kid, it means you have to get creative.

My sister and I weren't allowed to watch a lot of television as kids. We had to use our imagination. This was a little harder to do in wintertime; I think I may know about every card game known to man.

The Kalkaska/Fife Lake area is what is known as the Snow Belt. This meant that we had many snowstorms throughout the season, lots of lake effect snow. On blizzard ninety-six of the season the tone began to change, Mom was fed up, my sister and I were tired of each other, everyone was sick of card games and sick of seeing the snow fleas that had taken over our beautiful white snow, we were ready for summer. Unfortunately, blizzard ninety-six of the season is only about half way through the year in Northern Lower Michigan.

But the first snow is different. Still to this day it gives me a feeling of comfort. It means a lot of time with family and friends. Time to get out my fat pants, and my comfy sweat shirts. Time to find a new hobby, and dive into the unread books on the bookshelf. Time to put on good relaxing music, and watch the snow fly! I cannot wait for winter to begin!