White snow orgy

João Lopes Marques* (Eesti keeles)

There is nothing more delicious than His superlative irony. Having read a couple of agricultural articles on vineyards in Scandinavia and the Baltic region, God surprised me (us) with a altruistic orgy of extremely white snow.

More: who could guess some weeks ago I would be walking in the middle of the streets fearing being hit by one of those menacing spikes that grows bigger and bigger in the roofs of Tallinn?

Well, since last Winter I have realized this crystalline water ice can break legs. That I already knew. What I never expected was that this gigantic natural spears pointed at me in every corner. Last night I even dreamt about one of them that is growing in a building by my flat — it fell unexpectedly perforating my gentle torso.

For sure I also don't fancy all this army of tractors and caterpillars that just remind me Godzilla. But let's be positive (at least this time): these are quite bearable side effects of one of His most wonderful creations. If the reader has doubts, if such purifying whiteness that falls from the clouds is not enough, please try to see a snowflake in a optical microscope.

Oh my God, it's unbelievably perfect!

As if life gains renewed meaning — just look at the faces of people when the first serious snow starts falling from the skies. "The thing I like best in Estonia are our four seasons!", whispered me Triin, perhaps one of the biggest fans of snow I have ever met in my not-so-short existence.

She is right. I myself like better Vivaldi and its symphony after moving into Estonia. We understand better its tempos: the adagios, adagiettos, allegros and allegrettos... and then the adagios again... Beautiful.

And that said, and knowing that I had a snowy text to write, happy Triin texted loads of hints by SMS: "João, please don't forget to mention the happy kids riding sleighs, all grandmothers knitting gloves, the beauty of the snow reflection, the boys playing and the snowmen, the workers whose salary depends on snowing, the joy of going crosscountry in a pair of skis, the clothes people can finally dress..."

Minutes later she even added in an second SMS: "Ah, and Kristina Smigun can now prepare herself much better for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver..."

Uff, she was comprehensive (snow is gold). Yes, Triin is so happy these days that I even hide from her all these news on stranded people in highways and airports, not to mention alpine avalanches. Once again, these are side effects He created to warn us that everything has a positive and negative side.

Actually, both my rubber boots and I feel relieved by these crystalline Nordic days. And I feel baffled by Him as well: He not only sent us these torrential flakes, He wanted me to be in Estonia to see it.

A weather record is always a weather record (and vice-versa).

OK, now I know I will have to wait a bit longer for good grapes and cheaper wine in Estonia. Yet this amazing sense of normality eases my angst — it is good to acknowledge the world and our animal lives are not changing too fast.

You can't imagine my joy not having to recall my imaginary children: "You know what? Papa is still from the time there was snow in Tallinn..."

*João Lopes Marques on romaani "Mees, kes tahtis olla Lindbergh" autor