Snowmen

I'm in a position to make an observation on this topic. In this town (can't speak for others), a snowman is held in low regard, which helps explain why so many ungoverned neighborhood children are allowed to make targets of them with snowballs.   Imagine these folks desire to split a family into warlike factions; the snowballs are my friends and family.  I used to enjoy the luxury of merely laying down on the ground during the winter, giving moisture to the land.  These days I'm not much better than one of these people-groups' stand-up comics.  You see, I am now a snowman.

At the start of the season, my intention was to sleep peacefully during the winter until mid-February.  I had seen neighboring snowmen as representative of derision and demeaning - not even being provided adequate clothing- with no protection against these onslaughts of snowy missiles.   It just didn't appeal to me in the least to stand up in a junkman's attire making an utter fool of  myself warding off attacks with stick arms.  The following is what can happen to my best laid plans.

As I was sleeping one afternoon, nestled with the rest of the 'flakes', a young person got the idea from this older person that the snow was wet enough to pack me up into a ball by hitting me till they formed a ball.  Tortuous, I might add.  While these bright boys were rolling my head up, two more boys passed by and said they would assist in making my torso and head.  

To my head was applied coals for eyes -though they didn't increase my vision at all-and a carrot for a nose, from which I could not breath.  I knew my life was to be short-lived.  I have to say, however, that the older gentleman who suggested the idea of making me came out of  the house and graced my freezing head with a businessman's hat and professional tie...things I'd seen him leave the house in.  (The snowman across the street was sporting a grass skirt!)   But who wants to be the best dressed snowman in the neighborhood? Also, it was awkward trying to keep my balance, especially with the launch of the snowy grenades.  Nevertheless, I stood there for what seemed like forever.

It wasn't long before routines changed  The young people had to go back to school, the sun (a Friend of mine) started melting me and most of all, the novelty of me as their snowman shifted to other things, and I was completely ignored for the remainder of the winter, thankfully.  Finally I melted and joined my other snow friends who were all taken back to the clouds.  Clouds seem boring at times, but they are a long way away from the brutality of this community's youth and top my gratitude list!