Blurring lines.

I’ve always loved the snow — waking up to the scrolling announcements on the TV screen, “Edmonds School District: Closed,” hurrying to dress in snow clothes, and running outside to make footprints in the undisturbed snow. But by far my favorite thing about the snow is its ability to blur the lines.

When snow covers the ground, driving in the middle of the road becomes acceptable. Traffic laws are lost for a while, so long as you do what you can to stay safe.

Lines are blurred between strangers where strangers become neighbors and neighbors become old friends. Small talk on the bus connects once different worlds and laughter in the grocery store erases lines between guarded hearts. Neighbors help each other on the road where cars are stuck. Old friends bond over sledding and hours of lounging in front of the fireplace. Over hot chocolate, hearts are shared and relationships grow.

Snow falls, lines blur, and we remember what it’s like to love again.