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on my shoes, and within one very

long hour, we are ready to go.

We are barely out the door before

I decide my cute Texas-friendly

ballerina-style flats aren’t exactly

suitable for snow. Especially not

snow like this. “Oh!” The word

disappears in a puff of steam.

“It’s just so … beautiful.” Everything

is carpeted white. Morning sun glints

off the clean, mostly undisturbed

drifts. Traffic beyond the parking

lot is light. Slow between the giant

piles of plow-pushed powder.

Definitely a whopper of a storm.

Looks like it’s moved on for now.

My clothes are Texas weight,

and I shiver beneath them. But

a strange feeling floats down

over me. It’s a flurry of calm

I’ve never felt before, and worry

dissipates. Whatever happens,

I know somew

here in all this snow

I’ve found a missing piece of me.

Summer

ADVENTURE OVER

Kyle’s truck is totaled. And with

it, our dream of playing house.

I guess somewhere deep inside