STAFF EDITORIAL: Penn's winter wonderland

Yesterday, the University shut down on account of snow for the first time in years. And what a magical day it was. After an absence of more than four years, our campus is again covered in snow. Forget the wind chill and the slippery sidewalks -- put on your gloves or mittens and let the snowballs fly. For those accustomed to blustery winters, yesterday marked the return of a welcome childhood friend who had been absent for several years. For those who had never before woken up to the glimmer of the sun's rays on a sheet of untrammeled snow, yesterday was a day to remember. The cancellation of classes gave us all a moment to pause and reflect, not on economics or chemistry, but on the world around us and how much there is to enjoy on a day without worries. And what a day it was. Across campus, students and area residents rediscovered the simple emotions of times gone by -- the exhilaration of hurling a snowball, the sense of completion at putting the finishing touches on a well-built snowman, the peace and tranquility of resting at the center of a snow angel. The near-universal exuberance that a snowfall can produce is unmatched by any natural phenomenon. Yesterday could have been just any ordinary day of classes in the second week of the semester, laden with reading assignments and winter drudgery. But from Hill Field to the Quadrangle to Hamilton Village, the white blanket of snow let us all be children again, freeing us from our mundane concerns. Mother Nature might not be so kind to us in the weeks ahead. So take advantage of the winter wonderland at your feet, and when that chill is just too bitter or the slush too deep, take to heart these words of Robert Frost: The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued. Winter is here -- let's hope it stays.