It’s been a long time since that white stuff fell from the sky around here, hasn’t it? For those who’ve forgotten what the white stuff is, it’s called snow, and I’m looking forward to a lot more of it the next two months or so.

I hadn’t checked the weather forecast before leaving Tuesday’s basketball game, so as I stepped out into the cold, I was pleasantly surprised. A thin layer of snow was visible on the ground as a few flakes flurried down.

Then I heard the weather forecast and was let down to hear that we would only get one to two inches, at most. We wouldn’t get a lot, but at least the ground was radiant enough for me to see outside in the dark when I got home.

Yesterday during fifth period, snow was again thick in the air. During the next passing period in my Japanese classroom, my eyes were glued to the window. I thought the weather people were wrong, for once, and the class was rooting against the sun, but during the period, the snow died down, as did my anticipation.

Something about snowfall separates winter from the other seasons. It never feels as if winter has actually begun until the first flake of snow touches the ground. (And yes, I know winter officially begins Dec. 22.) Snow makes the cold temperatures worthwhile and the gusting winds bearable because it somehow makes everyone more jubilant. The most common reaction after a cry of “Snow!” was a look out the window and a smile on a person’s face.

It’s not that everyone likes the snow just because they can make snowmen and snow angels (although some do) — it’s more the tranquility, the peace, and the optimism provided by snow on the ground and in the air. It brings out excitement because it hasn’t been seen for so long, and joy because of the odd light feeling it brings.

The little snow we have on the ground should melt away soon. But hopefully there will be more. The first day of snow often becomes the turning point of a year, and sets a new mood until winter break. Unless you’re in a car, the more snow we get this winter, the happier the mood should be.