Ryan Billington

1-4-05

AP English

Extra Credit

Winter’s Quandary

By Ryan Billington

            A weakening of winter’s power has left UCA in a form of a winter drought.  The once frozen tundra covered in snow has been transformed by a midwinter spring.  Sun and rain have washed away the blinding white that favored this campus in the record low, pre-break temperatures.  The New Year has brought about change and our white wintry fluff has disappeared. 

Winter brings a unique atmosphere to these wheatfields that we have come to love.  UCA takes on a mystical, storybook atmosphere.  The trees turn completely white, covered by twinkling frost.  The snow swirls that cover the ground and fill the air cause the world we know to dwindle and disappear, leaving only one’s self and the pinpricks of white.  But winter has fallen into a quandary, and remains undecided and unsure of what is to come.  So we sit in this mix of seasons, ever changing.

Snow enthusiasts, such as the avid mountain riders that attend this school in droves, are quite disappointed with this turn of events but “there’s still snow in the mountains,” which always makes things better.  The ski rec program is going strong, and winterists can still slide and float through those wonderful little crystals.  But those who dream of whiter days can’t help but remember winters of old, and wonder when nature’s quandary will end.

In the mean time, rain, wind, sunshine, and blue skies have all found a place at UCA.  Those faithful few who long for warmer days and the sports they love can occasionally be spotted around campus.  Skateboards gather at the front of the dorm and wakeboarders can be seen discussing equipment, new tricks, and their goals for the coming summer.  

It’s quite possible that this northwestern weather may never fully decide, and that the quandary will continue to some unforeseeable end; a continuous mixing pot of seasons and peoples.  After all, that is why we love it here.  Lakes, mountains, snow, rain, sunshine, and clouds… brought together so that all can marvel and enjoy the wonder of our home.