By Joshua Vedis

Imagine you’re a kid again. Back to the first time you saw snow drop from the sky. Being filled with a unique mixture of bewilderment and enthusiasm, what did you do? Run around exploring the new luminated snowy landscape? Jump into pristine piles of snow? Now imagine you’ve never experienced snow as a kid. How would you react as an adult?

Micheal Reaume, a now 29-year-old Marine Corps vet from Arizona, had never experienced something we see so commonly in the northern states, before he enlisted into the military.

The crisp biting sensation of the cold, fluffy, cotton-like substance we know as snow was a foreign concept to Michael. Growing up, he would watch movies and shows that depicted snow, but was never able to feel it. To experience it as it fell listlessly from the sky blanketing the ground in its chilly embrace.

Thinking back on his childhood, Michael described his experience, saying, “It looked like fun. Like watching someone play with a toy you don’t have.”

During his time in the Marine Corp, Michael was deployed to the Mihail Kogalniceau (MK) Air Base in Romania at the age of 20, just before winter.

As winter rolled in, Michael was awestruck as he watched snow fall from the skies for the first time and coated the ground with layers of snow. Watching snow fall from the sky, Michael returned to being a kid. As he watched the snow accumulate, his excitement for winter grew exponentially.

During the days after the initial snowfall, Michael was so ecstatic about witnessing snow that he went around the base making snowballs and throwing them. He explained that he went around base throwing snowballs at walls “just to see what would happen.”

While Michael was throwing snowballs, a fellow Marine commented on his fervent disposition asking him “if he’d never seen snow before.” Michael said, “I told him ‘No!’ and threw a snowball at him.” He played in the snow so much he ended up experiencing frostnip for the first time.

While he expressed that the frostnip was painful, Michael refused to let it stop him. He continued to play in the snow, only taking breaks to prevent the frostnip from becoming frostbite.

Micheal explained that once enough snow had fallen, he would go around making snowmen and snow angels. He recounted one specific incident where he was taking a shower and decided to go out in the snow to make a snow angel before he got dressed, just to see what it felt like.

Amongst his memories, Michael remembered several instances of waking up early in the morning just to go outside and watch the snow reflecting the golden light of dawn as it fell.

Michael’s enthusiasm for snow never waned as the months went by. However, he did recognize that the experience wouldn’t last forever. Michael said, “deep down, I know this fun

won’t last. We’re Marines in the infantry. The snow is gonna melt… once it’s gone it’s just gonna be cold and wet.”

Snow has an extraordinary effect on people that’s far from exclusive to childhood. Even amongst the disciplined members of the military, snow retains its near mystical impact.

Happy Holidays from the staff of the Redhawk Post!