The Problem with Snow!

When I was growing up in Hawaii I dreamed about heading up Mauna Kea to gather Hawaiian Snow. We would four-wheel there with coolers sliding in the bed of the pick-up for storage of the famed ice. Once there there would be the snow ball fight and ice down the back. Heavy breathing and headaches, due to the altitude (13,000+ feet) on the peek. We would fill our coolers and make the log journey back home. We would enjoy snow cones made form the "snow" (it is mostly ice) by putting sugary flavored syrup (my favorite being strawberry) all over; fun and joy.

I attended college in Oregon. My first year there while sitting in my Computer Science Class, it began to snow. My first real snow. Of course I wasn't the only Hawaiian there and on this day it was not hard to find us. Since most of us had never seen snow fall form the sky, we stood outside, looking up trying to catch a few flakes on our tongs, all the while wearing our shorts and slippers. After a while in the frigid air, most of us went looking for a heavy coat and shoes to protect us from the cold. After a few days of freezing, this white stuff is not so fun after all.

I returned to Oregon in 2001. By this time I had forgotten about the dissatisfaction I had with snow. We had wet winter and no snow. Never crossed my mind. We live at 500ft we should not get snow. I was wrong. This is why I hate snow. It is dam cold. It turns bad drivers into people who should not have a license. It is the only thing people talk about. I have to scrape it off my windshield. Did mention it is cold. Not everyone shows up for work. the people who come to shop think the end is near. It is cold. My child won't stop sining "I love snow, I love snow....etc. samui des nei. (it is cold in Japanese) The same people who complained when it was too hot now complain that it is too cold. etc. etc. etc.

So my problem with snow, I need to get some syrup, throw a few snowballs, and put some snow down someones back and have some fun. I just wish that after I was done playing in the snow I could sit down in Kailua-Kona and enjoy the heat.

Harry