Morning surprise

?Spring is slowly turning to summer here in Texas. That means triple digit days – and nights, short sleeves, swimming pools, and cookouts can’t be far away. I like the summer, but believe it or not, I like the winter a whole lot more.

One of my biggest disappointments with this past winter is we didn’t get a single snowflake. Not one. In fact, I don’t even remember the local weathermen even hinting at the chance of snow. I know, I know, how did this Texas guy gain such an affinity for the harsh conditions? Not sure myself, but there’s something about that type of weather that really resonates with me. Whereas most people I know crave tropical environments for vacation, I on the other hand crave a getaway that requires hats, gloves and a layer of clothing – or two!

While we didn’t get snow this year, I vividly remember my first experience with it. The night before it happened, my mother tucked me into bed and promised she’d have a surprise for me in the morning. Back in those days, food didn’t do a thing for me so I figured it would be a toy of some sort.

When the night turned to day, she grabbed my little hand, led me to the front, opened the door and there it was … snow! I couldn’t get dressed fast enough! For the next two days, friends and family from all over the neighborhood, built snowmen and snow angels, threw snowballs and simply stood in awe of this incredible act of nature.

As the temperature began to rise, our fun started to fade and the snow that brought us so much joy, slowly began to melt. The chill was still in the air, but there wasn’t enough of a chill to sustain the magic. This made me sad and that night, I found my way to the big sliding glass door in the back of our house, looking up, hoping it would snow again. No one else, just me.

As the youngest in the house, my mother always kept close tabs on me. She came looking and found me sitting there and in her sweet voice asked, “what you doing”?

“Waiting on the snow”, I replied. “I’ll wait with you”, and with that she plopped down right next to me. There we sat for a good little while – me waiting on snow, her conversing with her little boy as he waited…

We talked about the blue jacket and matching blue gloves I loved so much… riding my bike without training wheels and learning how to comb my hair. Our time together was so brief, and my father often says this is why memories of her burn so intensely within me.

We talked and talked some more, but the next thing I knew, I was waking up in bed. I opened the shades, looked outside and realized that snow never showed up …  but I was so happy my mother did…

***

As the years have gone by, I’ve stood at that place in our old house many times. The door has changed, and my father has actually moved out, but a change of address can never erase that special memory. Me waiting on the snow, her knowing it would never come, but waiting with me just the same. Waiting, just the same in a way only a mother could.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, go back to that place in your life where you wanted something, someone, or something to happen. In certain situations, your boys, your girls, your best friends are there. Then there are those times when no one else showed up – those times you were waiting on the snow.

The silence was pierced by the sweet voice of your mother. Isn’t it amazing how she can always find you during those times? She listened, you talked, she listened, you talked, she loved, you grew. Before you knew it, you were in the most peaceful place life has to offer. You’ll smile, your heart will too as you realize, that snow … it never showed up … but remember how happy you were …

Because your mother did…