Catherine Nicolai

At the bottom of the steps, I reached down for the newspaper, thankfully well-wrapped and protected from all this melting snow.

I tucked it under one arm and went farther down the drive to the sidewalk, then followed that to the corner a few houses down.

I tucked it under one arm and went farther down the drive to the sidewalk, then followed that to the corner a few houses down.

I tucked it under one arm and went farther down the drive to the sidewalk, then followed that to the corner a few houses down.

I wasn't sure what I was looking for. Just wanted to see more, I guess.

I wasn't sure what I was looking for. Just wanted to see more, I guess.

I wasn't sure what I was looking for. Just wanted to see more, I guess.

To see what we were all getting up to. If others could feel the change that I could. Across the street, I saw a man walking a dog.

To see what we were all getting up to. If others could feel the change that I could. Across the street, I saw a man walking a dog.

To see what we were all getting up to. If others could feel the change that I could. Across the street, I saw a man walking a dog.

He waved at me, and even the dog seemed to be smiling. Yes, I think they could feel it too.

He waved at me, and even the dog seemed to be smiling. Yes, I think they could feel it too.

He waved at me, and even the dog seemed to be smiling. Yes, I think they could feel it too.

I crossed the street and went another block over. I passed a frozen pond.

I crossed the street and went another block over. I passed a frozen pond.

I crossed the street and went another block over. I passed a frozen pond.

One sunny morning, hadn't done anything to its inches of frozen ice. And I stopped a moment to look at the way the light caught the angles of its surface.

One sunny morning, hadn't done anything to its inches of frozen ice. And I stopped a moment to look at the way the light caught the angles of its surface.

One sunny morning, hadn't done anything to its inches of frozen ice. And I stopped a moment to look at the way the light caught the angles of its surface.

It wasn't even and flat. The wind must have been blowing hard as the crystals came together. I'd seen pictures before of frozen waves on the Great Lakes.