I’m a big fan of your music, Luke Combs, but here in Illinois “When It Rains, It Pours” is overrated. Reality is that when it snows it squalls, and that is exactly what happened on April 1st and 2nd of 2022, well, mostly. No, it’s not an April Fools’ joke and it’s a bit of an exaggeration to say that it squalled, but it certainly did snow a measurable amount. I am most definitely ready for spring weather, and it doesn’t help that just two weeks ago it was over 70 degrees Fahrenheit in Chicago, but the snow today was beautiful. A serenity was cast over my backyard as I watched massive snowflakes the size of a quarter fall to the ground. Empty branches waiting to bud with green leaves were blanketed by the soft snow and the outside world seemed to momentarily still. I am aware that I sound like a nature blogger and a hopeless romantic with that last sentence, and that interpretation is accurate, but so many people take for granted these small moments of peace when the constant stresses of daily life appear never-ending.
There I was standing in front of the window in my living room, watching the April snow fall and thinking about how sad it is that so many people who have the option to stop and enjoy the simplicity in this moment choose otherwise. When it snows it really does squall, because there will never be a time in life when all stresses and hardships disappear. There will always be another blizzard with whiteout conditions to navigate through and layers of ice that keep building, but never seem to crack. I will be the first to admit that I forget to focus on the present moment when thoughts from the past and worries about the future are always on my mind.
I did not intend to make this blog overly serious. Thoughts just came to mind about how truly small we are in comparison to the rest of the world, and this was the first moment in a long time when I felt as though I was truly present. It was just me, my thoughts, and the thick snow falling in front of me in what is supposed to be a rainy April. Let this blog be your sign to take a second to breathe; you never know when a cold, snowy afternoon in April can lead to some truly lovely moments.
Written by Ashley N
General Manager, Host
Raised by a country music-loving mother and a father who is an alternative rock enthusiast, Ashley’s taste in music cannot be pinned down to a single category. Cross Country is a music show with a little bit of country, but a whole lot of variety. There is no doubt that you will find your favorite music in her show and you can listen to Cross Country every Monday at 11:00 am! Aside from producing her radio show, you can see Ashley dabbling in her favorite hobbies of drawing, sculpting, practicing yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
Harper Radio 