Early November is a time to look ahead; to the holidays, the upcoming new year and the first snowfall of the season.

People were talking about the first snowfall a week ago. It looked like the Marshall area might get at least one or two inches. It wasn’t supposed to be a snowstorm, just a bit of snow as a start to winter.

On Saturday morning the prediction appeared to be coming true. I woke up to snow flurries. The first thing I did after getting dressed was to have some coffee.

I enjoyed just having coffee and watching the flurries. The snow accumulated on cars but not on the pavement. It didn’t add up to snow accumulation.

In the early afternoon I drove down to Lynd, down Lyon County Road 25 in the Redwood River valley. There was snow on the shaded hillsides.

Snow on the ground told me that the snowfall counted as the year’s first snow. I heard areas to the south had several inches. I saw a car with Nebraska plates that had snow on the hood. It qualified as an early seasonal snow event.

I remember in grade school the first time it snowed in the late fall. We would all rush to the classroom window to see the snow. The teachers didn’t try to stop us.

We hoped there would be enough snow for snowballs, maybe even snow people. Most of the time it was wet snow that was perfect for making snowmen.

I have many happy memories of the snow on Marguerite Avenue in Marshall. I made a snow fort at the top of our backyard hill where my dad piled snow into a snowbank.

In front of the deck I made toboggan trails. There was often a snow family in front of the storage shed toward the back of the yard. In my teenage years I would go cross country skiing in the park area between the houses and at the end of the street.

In the past few years I started to dread the snow removal and the potential for ice. This year apartment living has meant no snow worries. It brought back the pleasure of a snowfall.

I enjoy seeing sleds, forts and snow people in yards. It tells me that children still like the simple things in life like snow.

It’s something that doesn’t cost any money. The snow can be enjoyed for free, or for the affordable price of something like a plastic sled.

Once in a great while we have an early season blizzard. I especially remember the Halloween blizzard of 1991. I was fortunate that my first apartment was nearly across the street from the Independent. I had no excuse for not making it to work.

The first snowfall has a charm that quickly wears off as winter progresses. We don’t like it when weather interferes with weekend and holiday plans. It’s hard to think in terms of not being able to get somewhere.

My least favorite months have always been January and March. February is slightly better because it only lasts for 28 days or 29 in leap years.

During a first snowfall the drudgery of winter hasn’t taken hold. The snow is nice. It’s something new. We can enjoy it and look forward to all the good things that come with a holiday season.

I heard predictions that it might be a harsh winter. So far that hasn’t come true. It was nice enough on Friday this week to wear shorts as I wrote my column. We were given one last day of shorts and sweatshirt weather, a good day to put up holiday lights.

We can’t control the weather. It needs to be respected. We put up with it when it isn’t good, but when we get a first snow or a last warm day it’s a reason to be thankful.

— Jim Muchlinski is a longtime reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent