Drip. Drip. Splash! Drip. Drip. Splash! The rhythmic melody captures my full attention. I close my eyes, tip my head back against the soft leather chair, and exhale slowly. Drip. Drip. Splash! Drip. Drip. Splash! If I didn’t know the source of the dripping water, these sounds would send me into a bit of a frenzy. But today, with my window cracked open ever so slightly, I smile contentedly. I feel every cell in my body responding and relaxing as it celebrates these glorious sounds of spring! Drip. Drip. Splash! Drip. Drip. Splash!
Winter can be beautiful. In fact, I’ll willingly admit that I find the first snowfall of the season to be simply magical. Beautiful little crystals of snow effortlessly cascade to the ground where they ultimately meet one another and form a fluffy white blanket. The sounds of daily life become muffled as this blanket expands, and the world seems to slow its pace. Individuals snuggle inside, enjoy warm drinks, and once again begin preparing cold weather “comfort” foods. Many eagerly anticipate time playing in the snow, and they excitedly share the list they’ve created of the many cold weather activities in which they will participate. But, winter means different things to different people. My children are grown so I’m no longer building snowmen, constructing snow forts, or making snow angels in the yard. And, the thought of putting slippery little sticks on the bottom of my feet and careening down a large hill (or mountain) doesn’t hold any real appeal for me. At this point in life, I think I’m more of a “sit in the chalet and drink hot cocoa” kind of person. In fact, the peaceful little snowfall I initially celebrate very quickly turns into a howling wind with a swirling mixture of sleet and ice that freezes exposed skin and causes my shoulders to rise to my ears in a desperate attempt to stay warm. So, for me, winter is more enjoyable in theory. It doesn’t take long for the “romance” of the winter season to wear thin. I can only drink so much hot cocoa, and the comforting stillness of that initial snowfall is quickly replaced by snowplows obnoxiously scraping the pavement to clear the way for daily life. Fluffy and white quickly becomes dirty and stressful. Not surprisingly, after months of the frosty blanket significantly impacting my commute and making the tasks of daily living more challenging than they should be, I am more than ready to see it go.
I inhale deeply and enjoy the delightfully fresh air. What an incredible gift after such a very long winter. I briefly open my eyes to see my little Zoe also enjoying the change. Her nose is twitching, her tail is wagging, and she’s desperately trying to catch the droplets of water as they fall on the other side of the window. I smile, close my eyes again, and listen. Drip. Drip. Splash! Drip. Drip. Splash! Aaaaahhhhhh. Such glorious sounds!