If it’s your first winter in New York City, you’ve probably heard at least once how harsh the season can be. I still remember how my friends, who were in the city last year, described this horrible scene to me: “Oh my God, just wait ‘til you experience it; you’ll see; you’ll never be able to make it! It’s freezing…” I couldn’t doubt their statement because I saw the news with my own eyes: the city completely snowed-in and isolated, and the people almost frozen.
So, after Thanksgiving (inspired in part by the snowy Halloween we experienced), I really started wondering about the coming winter, and I decided to prepare myself.
I bought a big Moncler parka, waterproof boots, extra-waterproof gloves, super warm hats, and waited for it. Nothing happened. I started to wonder, were my worries built on mere imagination or was I a firsthand witness to the effects of global warning. Unfortunately, the second hypothesis was the right one. The ecologists didn’t to lie to us: we, indeed, had to celebrate Christmas without snow! No more angels in the snow or snowmen before opening presents on December 25. Thankfully, we still had television specials to maintain the illusion and to let us dream…
Weeks went by, and nothing changed. As you would expect, last weekend’s sudden downfall was completely unexpected. Despite the weather forecast, no one really wanted to believe in the probability of snow. But in fact, they were right!
I was blinded when I drew my curtain open on Saturday morning. I was like a child reacting to school canceled by snow. I could have jumped up and down on my bed. But, I had to focus in order to seize this day. I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted to fully enjoy this unique chance!
Appropriately, I decided to head to Central Park. I guessed it was the best place to be in order to have a picturesque view of this miracle of nature. I wasn’t disappointed, it was 
magical! A perfect day, and nothing could affect it.
The magical feeling set in as soon as I entered the park. The weather was not very cold, so it was enjoyable to be outside. The trees were majestically stripped of their leaves and, instead, were wearing white coats, which marvelously suited them. They looked amazing.
Central Park was crowded with people all aiming to spend a wonderful day in the snow. They were well-equipped and ready to satisfy their hunger for winter. They didn’t know how long the weather would last, so they decided to do everything.
Nothing was missed. Parents came with their children and occupied the top of the hills ready to do some sledding. You could hear the laughter of the kids ready to slide down the hill. Some kids started to throw snow in the air and chanted, “It’s snowing, it’s snowing!” Groups of friends also came to take advantage of the snow and enjoy the opportunity to reminisce about their childhood memories. Some even went as far as to actually build snowmen and engage in snowball fights. Undoubtedly, they all had fun.
My day wasn’t finished yet. I walked a little bit farther until I reached Alice’s statue and entered Wonderland. When I reached the frozen fountain, I had goose bumps all over my body. They didn’t go away when I heard beautiful voices interpreting a famous Gospel repertoire. I followed the music and found a whole family, singing a succession of soulful songs. It was perfect!
To immortalize these moments, everybody was carrying a camera and took pictures of almost everything. Actually, it’s funny, when we hear the word “snow,” we immediately think of the bad aspects of it: the trapped cars, the cold, the heavy traffic, the delays, etc. However, we tend to forget the good side of it: the beautiful landscapes, the gathering of friends and family, the activities of winter, etc. Therefore, I deeply hope we will have many more years to enjoy this miracle of nature, and that it would never become just a phenomenon on Christmas television specials.
by Kenza Yarhfouri
