Snow

The New York Times > New York Region > Storm Heads Off, Leaving Messy Commutes in Its Wake I love living here in California, I love the hills and the fog and the Sunny days that come in the summer. But I miss the snow. New York City has gotten a record snowfall this winter and I didn't get to experience any of it. Instead, I will wear a t-shirt to school this morning. When it snows, New York City becomes magical. The snow slows the city down, and probably dulls the sound as well, so that on a snowy day, the usually large amounts of ambient noise are cut in half and the only sound that one can really be aware of is the scraping of shovels on the sidewalk. Everyone becomes friendly - it doesn't snow often in New York City, only about once or twice a year, and it becomes a special time. Some people love the snow, and are happy to see it. They become friendly because they are happy. Other people hate the snow, and they also become friendly because there is nothing they can do about it. They just have to "grin and bear it." There are sledders in Central Park and schoolboys (myself included) like to throw snowballs at passing trucks while waiting for the bus. Unfortunately, schools have to impose some pretty silly restricions on kids. PS 9 kept us indoors at lunch on snowy days and I remember at Wagner Junior High School, the principal would come on the PA system whenever it snowed: "Anyone caught throwing snow after school will be suspended." Yeah right!! who did he think he was kidding? Mr. Whittaken was a good principal and a smart guy. He knew that the minute we left 76th street and were out of sight of Mr. Greenberg, the dean, the snowballs would fly. It's snowing in New York City, and that's what snow is for.