Saturday, December 23, 2006

Music of snow


Awoke to the sound of shovels scraping along the sidewalk; neighbors clearing off last night’s snowfall. Soft, cottony snow of about 3 inches or so. The drive to work took longer, but the snow on the trees, yards, rooftops was quite beautiful. The skiers are excited to have fresh snow just in time for holiday break.

The snow and upcoming holidays remind me of an old movie, "Holiday Inn," starring Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Marjorie Reynolds. It takes place at an old-fashioned country resort in Vermont, which Bing has bought, with plans to open it to guests only on major holidays. Of course, stage shows are the main attraction of the inn, and the three of them, plus a host of extras perform numerous song and dance routines. And, of course, Bing and Fred vye for the same girl (Marjorie Reynolds). The song, "White Christmas," originally comes from this movie, sung by Bing as he tries to win Marjorie back from Fred.

The couple featured on this poster look like they could break into song, don’t you think? But probably not any songs by Eric T. and the Skis…

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The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event -- Unknown

Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die,
Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly,
Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams go,
Life is a barren field,
Frozen with snow.

-- Langston Hughes

Sunshine cannot bleach the snow,
Nor time unmake what poets know.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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