Footprints

Last night the weather forecasters had predicted we would get an inch or two of snow.

Unfortunately for us, all we received was enough freezing rain to turn our city into an over-sized ice rink.

On a lighter note, it was rather funny to see the footprints pictured above which ran up and down the length of our sidewalk. I had to laugh when I saw them.

I laughed because I remember what it was like to embrace the shock of snow and ice and to delight in the stinging awareness that comes when bare skin meets with winter's frozen temperatures. Growing up in Montana, I remember braving the frigid cold and relishing my stinging cheeks and the numb fingers/toes that always accompanied outdoor activities like sledding or ice skating.

Seeing my daughter's footprints etched in the icy frost this morning has helped me to remember that it is possible to find the joy of life running through cold winter winds. Life sometimes requires a certain daring in order that it might be fully lived.

..and sometimes we need only look upon the footprints of youth to rediscover that old daring within ourselves.