the day after a fresh snow, the not-so-little girl wanted to play, to be outside. the snow was so deep, it was chilly, and i had things to do. but outside we went, she running and jumping like a pup through new powder, me dragging my heavy-booted feet and wondering how dinner would get made. we threw this orange ball for the better part of an hour, back and forth, back and forth across the wide expanse of snow. we whipped the ball across the surface making bowling ruts in the snow. we carved out circular depressions for targets and held our breath as the ball circled the perimeters and rolled in. our bodies warmed as our whooping echoed into the woods and through the early evening air. i worried only momentarily that we might disturb neighbors. this was too much fun to be quiet.as sure as i sit here typing, i know a time will soon come when she's too old to play, when she's not willing to be wet and cold, when friends will replace me, and visits will go to classmates' houses and not mine. i know i will long for days like this one. so dinner be damned, i'll take play like this whenever it comes my way.
