First Snow

This morning as I was walking to the train the air was clear and sharp and I thought that the trees looked like they were ready for snow and the sky was close to giving the trees what they wanted. When it did begin to snow, the huge swirling flakes that make children open their mouths, and make everyone experience a sudden flashback to being a child, I was behind the counter at the bookstore, wrapping presents, and I only had one or two glances as the beautiful curtains of the snow flurry ran against the dark asphalt, and someone said, "it's snowing," that hopeful statement, tinged with wonder, that it's someones job to say every year.