Day 340: It's Snow Dreamy in Stockholm

"The snow began, 

falling and falling

drifting carelessly

floating 'round.

The snow swelled,

blowing and blowing

horizontal gusts  

blanketing sound." 

- Anonymous

What is snow if not shimmering elusive flakes that rise up in a flurry, then come to rest, softly blanketing sound? I love the snow. It is soft and pillowy (really cold too), yet strong and demanding. It commands our respect, like the rain. A rain shower can be so pleasant and refreshing, while a hurricane can come through like the devil, wreaking havoc on man and nature. I am not a spring chicken anymore but I am definitely young enough to get around easily and stomp and traipse through deep mounds of snow as the wind attempts to blow me over. When I stepped out at lunch time today I had to wonder how older folks fare with this weather. 

Once I carefully made it down the mördarbacke I headed straight for the subway station. Lucky for me I can walk through the station underground four city blocks away and avoid the nasty sideways blowing snow. My first stop was to mail an Emergency Happy Kit to last weekend's winner. While standing in line I noticed an older woman and an older man in a wheelchair next to her. He was wearing a reflective vest. I couldn't imagine why they would have come out in this weather, but there they were with everyone else, running their errands and ignoring the class two snow storm taking place outdoors. 

After the mail counter transaction was complete I headed back through the subway tunnel in a different direction to one of my favorite restaurants nearby, a Harikrishna vegetarian Indian restaurant called Govindas Vegetariska Restaurang. The food was especially exceptional today, which made me happy that I had ventured out into the storm. I debated walking the three blocks back to the office outdoors but in the end decided I could face that fate later today when there are no subway tunnels handy. 

When I emerged from the subway station back near my office, the snow had started to slow a bit. It wasn't quite as windy so I risked a moment to peek up out of my hood and look around. It was absolutely magical. Marshmellowy mounds of soft snow everywhere and a peaceful quietness permeating the air. It's snow dreamy in Stockholm today for sure. I trudged slowly back up the mördarbacke toward my office. On the way up I snapped the last photo below. The photo above it was created and taken on my way to work this morning adjacent to where I took this photo. I made a heart with my boots, marching around in the snow like a kid. And by the way, my snow heart was long buried under at least a foot and a half of snow when I passed by on my way to lunch. 

 Snow Heart.

Snow Dreamy Stockholm. 

Day 320: Ovanligt Väder (Uncommon Weather)

The weather is making me feel turned around today. It feels and looks like an early spring day. Sunny and warm and a sense of lightness in the air. Of course, that's just wishful thinking on my part. And even though it feels like spring would be openly welcomed right about now, I actually look forward to snuggling up against the winter cold and I am hopeful for snow. With this crazy warm weather however I don't know if I should expect or even hope for snow but I'm going to anyway. If we have to go through with it(winter), then I say, "Bring it on and bring on the snow!"

But if the weather wants to stay this "warm" a while longer, I would be perfectly okay with that too. I stepped out at lunch time today to go for a little stroll and take in some vitamin D and I think because it was extra beautiful out, I "accidentally" took a longer lunch than normal. I just couldn't bear to go back inside yet. As I made my way back to the office with my take-out lunch from Govinda's vegetarian restaurant, I noticed around me that it wasn't just me who thought getting outside was a good idea. Lots of people were also out enjoying the sun. No one was rushing to get back to their offices or even to the restaurants for lunch. Completely opposite from the haste of the morning commute. Everyone walked with a sort of rambling, meandering gate, which made me slow down as well. Who needs to be in a hurry anyway?

As I made my way up the last bit of the mörderbacke (muderously steep hill) and turned to go up the short set of stairs that signal I am almost back at the office, I hesitated for a long moment and just stood there, facing the sun with my eyes closed. I came very near going inside and telling everyone that I was taking the rest of the day off but in the end, I gave in and went back in. But standing in the sunshine there, I thought about how important sunny days are to me. A sunny day really can make or break it for me. Today reminded me of the many years I lived in Sunny Los Angeles. It very seldom rains in Southern California and the seasons are so mild that it is nearly impossible to tell which time of year it is based on the temperature. I missed having true seasons but I really loved living in a place where there is blue sky and sunshine nearly every single day. Now I am getting to enjoy a completely different climate and though I prefer a warm climate to a cold climate, the experience of living in such a different place is really cool. (And I mean that literally as well!)

Just something to remind you of warm sunny days... now I only need some guacamole and chips...