My memories of this city dating back to childhood are filled with snow. Before Halloween piles of snow lining the streets. Mountains to conquer on the way home from school. These past years. Adulthood. This has been different. Moving into December with little to no snow on the ground has been the norm. No mountains to conquer. But with height comes new perspective and these mountains take the shape of mere driving hazards. The extended wait from summer to fall to winter seems to stretch more and more each year. The day is November 21, 2009 and it snowed last night. For the second time this winter season. It feels like a first breath.