Snowy winters were common during my Michigan childhood. In the frozen white quiet of a fresh snowfall we two preschoolers would play all day, only going inside to change our woolly mittens, chunked with ice.

The trick with making angels in the snow was to sit up without mussing the perfect outlines and step out very carefully to admire our artistry. Icicles hanging from the eaves glittered in the sun and we somehow managed to snag a good one to suck on and crunch.

Worn out, we threw ourselves down on the softness and stared into the dizzying, confounding geometry of the flakes so close to our eyes. Beauty, aching and lovely, was ours but we didn't know to call it that.

A truly ample and glorious snowfall is something I expect of nature occasionally, and when that occurs, my life goes on hold; "The Gospel According to Hallmark" would say "treasure the moment" and I unabashedly agree.

MARY ELLEN WILLIAMS

Point Breeze

As I sat at my home office window viewing my computer e-mails, I heard a squeal outside the window. At first I thought it was my neighbor's dog yelping, or perhaps someone's tire spinning on the ice.

Spreading apart the wooden blind with my fingers and peering out at the heavy snow, I saw the strange creatures. Three children were rolling down the hillside. They were all bundled up, with frozen snow sticking to their wool hats and gloves, and actually laughing.

Was I seeing things? Are there really children playing outside and not indoors with their Wii games, Nintendo, texting on their phone or doing whatever else children do these days?

I decided to investigate this strange phenomenon further, so I drove to the main snow-covered road. There were actually people walking alongside the snowy banks. Walking to work, walking to the store, or were they just out looking at the beautiful white landscape?

All I know is this storm, with all of its fury, has brought people outside not only to work hard but also to play a little bit. There is still fun in the winter outdoors; all you need to do is dress warm and go out and squeal with your family!

NORMA DEER IMHOF

Franklin Park

My fondest memories are from the years I watched our son, now 22, enjoy the snow as a youngster. I remember his first ride around the yard as a toddler when my husband pulled him in a red plastic sled. Michael giggled so hard that I was sure he would wet his pants.

Years later Michael built snow ramps in the yard for his neighborhood friends. I always held my breath as they sailed down the hill and onto the ramp, but I delighted in knowing they enjoyed being outside, making their own fun.

Finally, there was the late-night call from Michael a few years ago when he was at the College of Wooster in Ohio. Though my heart skipped a beat to receive a call from him so late (parents never stop worrying, do they?) I loved the thrill in his voice as he reported that the students had filled the archway of Kauke Hall with snow after the first storm of the season.

Tradition has it that Wooster students get the next day off if they fill the arch. True or not, he didn't care; he just wanted to enjoy the moment. And what a moment it was! We could hear the Wooster bagpipers playing in the background while he was on the phone.

I was convinced that Michael loved the snow as much as I do. He got those genes from me!

SAUNDY WASELESKI

Sewickley Hills

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