SNOWY GLEE!

February 2023! 

The “Wild West” could be applied to the historic snowstorm that hit California last month.  

Dramatic scenes unfolded as the weather unleashed its awesome might:  hail, rain, thunderstorms, lightning, blizzards – all casting their spells over California. 

On a particularly frosty day, the winter blues gave way to this most exciting spectacle:  the folks, who live in the Bay Area, saw rarely seen snow blanketing the tops of the surrounding hills!  This vision got everyone rushing towards the hills – families, couples, friends, loners, all vying to reach the snow and experience this historic event. 

Excitement generated at the sight of snowfall in areas, where it’s a rare sight, was at an all-time high. 

Elsewhere, all around the state, TV coverage was almost constant with footage of folks having fun sliding down their frozen driveways or skiing along snow covered roads while the weather predictors warned of the dangers of driving or hiking in these hazardous blizzard conditions, getting stuck, lost, snowed in or worse, with no way out. 

Of course, social media was filled with videos and pictures of humans having fun.  People could be seen driving to, hiking towards and photographing this most thrilling event. 

Then there are the adventurous, trying to get to those places where they could capture the most stunning, the most out-there footage they could post online (I have to admit, scrolling through those feeds, the images are stunning!) regardless of the risks these escapades posed. 

Though there is such a thing as too much at one time, the snowstorm and the rains saw the state’s megadrought ease up. 

Those living within the visual range of these hills got to wake up to the gorgeous white tipped peaks capping the vibrant green slopes below.

If you looked closer through the lens of a camera or a binocular, you would have witnessed dramatic scenes:  winds whipping up the soft white flakes, descending mists swirling around in a dance that embraced those caught in their midst and delighted their spectators. 

As night fell, the cacophony of the world slowed, the setting sun permitting the shadow of impending night as it cast a deep glow across the hilltops, blending softly into a sweet peaceful symphony.