Do you remember when you were little and it snowed hard?

You were really excited.

After a dandy snowstorm, the snow – even without any drifts – could be almost as high as you were tall, and you couldn’t wait to go outside and play in it.

You eagerly put on your snowsuit and mittens.

You may not have eagerly gotten up on most school days, but if there was even a prospect of a snow day, you bounded out of bed and turned on the radio.

Wherever you lived, it may have seemed like your school district was often the last one to close for the day.

Whatever the day, you headed out the door as soon as you could. Maybe you made snow angels or snowmen. Maybe you climbed what seemed like snow mountains that plows had created just for you. Or maybe you took your sled to the nearest hill.

If you still have a runner sled, keep it. You may have a hard time finding another one.

After your age had two digits, not just one, you still thought snow was the greatest thing ever. You built snow forts and had snowball fights.

Maybe you learned to ski, and headed for the slopes now and then with family or friends. One advantage of living in this part of the world is that good skiing is not far from home. Even though for the youngest among us, any drive can seem longer than it is.

When you began driving, you quickly learned – sometimes the hard way – that driving on snow can be dangerous. It was particularly so when all cars had rear-wheel drive and none had anti-lock brakes.

There’s really nothing intuitive about driving on snow. You just have to learn. Every year at the first snowfall, you have to remind yourself that the roads have changed, and not in your favor.

Another downside – or at least it seems like one at that age – is that you’re big enough to shovel the driveway and the walk. But you soon figure out how to tackle that task efficiently.

At age 20, snow is still cool. If for whatever reason, life has taken you out of town, it’s fun to return home and hit the slopes with high-school or neighborhood friends.

When The Post-Journal was an afternoon newspaper, several of us in the newsroom, plus veteran reporter Manley Anderson, who was way more than twice the age of any of us, went skiing one evening after work and had a blast.

Once age 30 or so arrives, and with each passing decade, snow seems to get less and less amusing. Snow becomes something to navigate or endure, and you don’t get snow days from school.

Skiing, though, is something you can enjoy for several decades. Yet at some time, you may want to find slopes other than black diamonds.

However much you enjoy snow for a while, you may wish it would go away by March 1. Maybe before that.

Wintry conditions after the first day of spring aren’t exactly on your wish list, thank you.

The longer you live, the more of a challenge snow can present. But that doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying the winter in safe ways. On a good day, go for a ride along or around a lake near you. Visit a local town, village, or city that you don’t see frequently. Stop for lunch where the locals go.

Invite family members or friends to go along, especially those who no longer drive, or no longer drive in winter conditions.

You just might make someone’s winter day.

Randy Elf likes snow but not as much as he used to.

COPYRIGHT ç 2022 BY RANDY ELF