a little more on winter

It was cold, so very cold, and snow was stinging down on my face. I hadn't walked in a snowstorm in such a long time and I was loving it. As I waited along the street for friends in a shop I decided I had to either keep moving or get out of the storm for a minute.

I noticed a small antique shop tucked among the bread shops, coffee shops, and jewelry shops. I went inside. Immediate warmth, the wonderful scent of something familiar, and the sound of beautiful classical music aroused my senses and changed them from storm and cold to warmth and comfort. A little woman sat straight as a board in a wood chair by the door, as if to greet her customers. She was in a skirt, heavy sweater, cap, and fur boots, and was watching the storm with a book perched on her lap. We talked about the storm, the weather this year, and a bit about old things as I sailed around her shop, seeing, as always in such places, things like my mother had had, my grandmother had used, and more.

I didn't stay long, knowing I needed to catch up with the others who were probably on down the street by now. I thanked her as I left for giving me a chance to warm up. It was just one of those moments that come along in life that are special to me and me alone. I'll remember it for a long time.