I awoke this morning to the site of a sprinkling of snow and ice on the cars and grass. I was not expecting this to say the least. While pretty in a way, I’m so ready for spring that it sort of crushes the hopes. It also started me thinking. In writing, water is always supposed to be a symbol of cleansing. Often at the denouement of a movie or a book, a character will be drenched in water, symbolic of washing away the sins of the character.

What then is snow? Is it still a symbol of cleansing, of truth? Cold truth? Harsh reality? If it sticks to you, can it really wash away the sin?

The world outside is sunnier than yesterday, but colder. And still a gray haze hovers above the trees….