Catherine Nicolai

But it was a reminder that winter wasn't just one thing.

It has shades. It is a spectrum of experiences. I'd noticed when I stepped outside to get the newspaper something I've done lately in the gloom with my face wrapped up in a muffler shuffling in my boots and reaching with damp mittens into the snowbank at the edge of the driveway. But today, the air felt different. It was softer.

It has shades. It is a spectrum of experiences. I'd noticed when I stepped outside to get the newspaper something I've done lately in the gloom with my face wrapped up in a muffler shuffling in my boots and reaching with damp mittens into the snowbank at the edge of the driveway. But today, the air felt different. It was softer.

It has shades. It is a spectrum of experiences. I'd noticed when I stepped outside to get the newspaper something I've done lately in the gloom with my face wrapped up in a muffler shuffling in my boots and reaching with damp mittens into the snowbank at the edge of the driveway. But today, the air felt different. It was softer.

The crisp edge of it had been smoothed into something

The crisp edge of it had been smoothed into something

The crisp edge of it had been smoothed into something

that was easy to breathe and had a slight sweet scent like rain on pavement.

that was easy to breathe and had a slight sweet scent like rain on pavement.

that was easy to breathe and had a slight sweet scent like rain on pavement.

The bracing cold was suddenly less bracing.

The bracing cold was suddenly less bracing.

The bracing cold was suddenly less bracing.

Instead of rounding my shoulders and hunching over, To keep any warmth in, I stood tall and lifted my face to the open sky. I let my scarf fall away from my neck and took slow, deep breaths. The sun made me blink. when I had seen it last, which now felt like weeks ago. It was a bright white, appearing rarely and between snow showers. Now it had a rich honey yellow color,

Instead of rounding my shoulders and hunching over, To keep any warmth in, I stood tall and lifted my face to the open sky. I let my scarf fall away from my neck and took slow, deep breaths. The sun made me blink. when I had seen it last, which now felt like weeks ago. It was a bright white, appearing rarely and between snow showers. Now it had a rich honey yellow color,

Instead of rounding my shoulders and hunching over, To keep any warmth in, I stood tall and lifted my face to the open sky. I let my scarf fall away from my neck and took slow, deep breaths. The sun made me blink. when I had seen it last, which now felt like weeks ago. It was a bright white, appearing rarely and between snow showers. Now it had a rich honey yellow color,

and it felt like pure energy pouring into my system. I closed my eyes and let it bathe my face.

and it felt like pure energy pouring into my system. I closed my eyes and let it bathe my face.

and it felt like pure energy pouring into my system. I closed my eyes and let it bathe my face.

Gosh, I'd forgotten