Iannuccilli: A Snow Man & a Snow Fort
Dr. Ed Iannuccilli, Columnist
Iannuccilli: A Snow Man & a Snow Fort
Snow was so much more fun when we were kids, especially when school was canceled. I started the day by dressing in dungarees (finally shedding the snowsuit), a wool shirt, a sweatshirt, heavy coat, two pairs of heavy socks covered by black boots with four almost impossible to buckle clasps ( I tucked my pants), a toque, and gloves. Now, I was ready for the snowman and the snow fort. Just out the door, I made a snow angel by lying down in the fresh powder, extending my arms and legs as far as I could and then moving them up and down, side to side.
Hoping for slightly moist snow so that I could roll it like a stone, I started the snowman by packing a snowball and pushing it about the yard as the heavy snow stuck. The big ball would stand where I could push no further. Back I went for the torso, starting a little closer so the next roll would be smaller and liftable. Back for the head, ending with something easier to lift. I packed snow into the gaps to round the sides. It may have been a bit lopsided, but it was done! Now, I understand there are battery powered perfect snow spheres that attract snow by an electrical charge forming the body of a snowman. No way! A real snowman must be rolled, packed and sealed with love.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTo the cellar for coal to make the eyes, mouth, and buttons, to the kitchen for a carrot nose, to my bedroom for an old hat and a scarf. Some sticks from the yard for skinny arms.
And now for the snow fort. After all, we needed protection from enemy snowballs flying across the street. We made the fort by packing mounds of snow in a round circle and then trying to make a roof, to no avail. Nevertheless, it afforded enough protection for the fight. We had stacked a bunch of perfect snowballs behind the fort, but as the fight got going, we ran out and simply smashed snow in our hands to throw in rapid fire, like a Gatling gun. Fight over. Everybody won.
Wet frozen toes and fingers, windburned cheeks and chapped lips forced us to the warmth of home. Now exhausted, cold and hungry we awaited Mom’s hot cocoa and something more that I loved … Campbell’s Vegetable Soup and Tip Top Bread with hunks of butter, easily dunkable.
What is great about snow? Why everything.
Time to make a snowman and a snow fort. Time for cocoa and soup.
Ed Iannuccilli is the author of "Growing up Italian" and "What Ever Happened to Sunday Dinner?" and both books can be found here.
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