Winter Solstice

Today was winter solstice. E came home for Christmas and offered to blow the snow off the drive. She bundled up in her mother's sweats and winter coat, making her petite form indistinguishable under the layers of warmth.

She was no pansy from warmer climes; she handled the snow blower like she did the snow tracker on the grounds of her university in the wee hours of the morning before students began trudging off to class; confident and forthright, knowing the job had to be done.