And so happy new year, and snow on the sidewalks. Snow on the streets, and the evergreens. Snow on the steps of front porches. Snow on summer chairs.

Trees that were festively decorated for the Christmas holidays are out by the trash bins in the alleys. How beautiful they are, with the snow on their branches!

There are rabbit tracks and footprints of possums. There are tire tracks in the alleys, too. Tracks of the first ones venturing out into the new day, the new year. It’s all new, now. A fresh start!

I’m out too, to shovel snow. Favorite black sweater, hoodie, yard gloves, snow boots, too. Yes– the snow pants still fit! The snow this morning is fairly light and not bad to shovel.

Shoveling yesterday, New Years Day, the snow was more heavy and dense. Snowman snow. Little kids were out with their parents as the streetlights came on in the evening, so cheerful in their bright-colored snowsuits. They were so delighted by the snow.

Some things don’t change. But even as the snow was falling here, there were flood warnings in Kentucky, the same area hit by tornadoes in December. Snow on wildfires in Colorado. How many evergreens burned? How many houses? These are not the winters we remember.

So, as we turn the page on our new calendars, digital or paper, counting our numbered days, the new year has already begun. There is already more light after the winter solstice. What marks will we make, what hopes and inspirations, what new words for this new world?