White Rain

Has something gone awry with my eyes? Everything looks blurry and faint. I stand at the Reference Desk and squint out the North windows at the parking lot I know is there hidden behind the white veil of what I can only assume is more snow, snow so fine it appears as frozen fog. I sigh. Old fashioned winters were way more fun when I was ten and rolling around outside in a snowsuit!

I soon forget the winter weather outside as I am drawn into Library business. Our new Leisure Reading collection is taking shape on the shelves - a new plan through Brodart Books to bring the cream of current fiction and non fiction from the best seller lists to our patrons without having to spend a ton of money or add flash-in-the-pan materials to our collection permanently. Staff are drooling already and I suspect this will become a popular site.

Our monthly booksale cart is rolled out and soon attracts book lovers who battle with the idea of expanding their already too large home libraries with yet another enticing title. Volunteers need paperwork, students being promoted need training, grad students deep in research seek that one elusive publication - yes, it is pleasant work.

Suddenly it is time to go home. The Library stays open until midnight, but I don't have to be here so late this evening. I pull on my worn boots with the cracks in the creases when I bend my toes, slide my scarf tightly around my neck, snap my new warm black coat all the way up and prepare to step out into the cold tundra of outdoors.

I push open the first door in the vestibule and greedily absorb the blast of warmth from the blowers overhead. I steel myself for the inevitable. I slowly push the outside door open and step onto the veranda still bathed in daylight - what a delight to see daytime has not yet fled its orbit.

But what is this? The air is still white and gauzy with what I had earlier judged to be snow. Yet it washes my face in a refreshing wetness I had not anticipated. I see now that although it has the color of snow, it is really just water. A sideways rain if you will. Not exactly a cloud mist, but not flakes either. It feels wonderful on my cheeks and I lower my fur lined hood to take it in.

Yes, its still pretty cold, but it is not the wind driving the whiteness sidewards. I cannot explain it really. Just that white rain is sliding past my amazed eyes with all the candor of nature. No one is paying attention. But it seems quite miraculous to me. I will not hurry to the confines of my car. I will enjoy this little lift while it lasts. I may not see white rain again for another 50 years!