Snowball Memories

Time for a quick, New York City snow storm story. Back when I was a kid, in Manhattan, there was one winter storm that allowed us to be out of school. My mother let us out of the house to play. Around 4 or so in the afternoon, I saw my uncle John walking up 83rd street carrying what was the largest snowball my friends and I ever saw. He told me that he made this snowball by rolling it across snow laden cars as he walked from his job on 73 and East End Ave to 83rd between 2nd and 3rd. He said it took him about two hours of continually stopping and packing fresh snow into making this snowball. I can only imagine what other people thought as they watched him carry out this task. I guess all I want to say about this silly story is that, sometimes, the manner of giving is worth more than the gift and on that snowy day, too many years ago to mention, I had a great, giant snowball; friends who wanted one as well and an uncle who took the time to make it and a mother who wouldn’t let me keep it in the refrigerator. Thanks, John.