WASHINGTON – The students at the Evergreen School in Kensington have a theory about why it has snowed more this year in Maryland than at any other time that they can remember — the children are wishing for it.
“I keep wanting it over and over and over again and then it snows,” said Amara Britt, 8.
Amara listens to a CD of snow songs — mainly Christmas songs — at night, then falls asleep and dreams about snow. When she wakes up, more often than not these days, it has snowed.
Cyrus Hojaju, 9, agreed with Amara that kids “were praying for snow to come,” which is why he has been able to make three snow forts and an igloo in his yard this year.
Whatever the children are doing seems to be working: The record-breaking President’s Day weekend blizzard, which dropped 28.2 inches at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, combined with this week’s snow to make this the snowiest Maryland February in recorded history.
Calvin Meadows of the National Weather Service also said this is the second-snowiest winter in the state since records have been kept. The total accumulation so far this year is 54.9 inches, putting the 1995-1996 record of 62.9 inches of snow in reach before the season is over, Meadows said.
While that would be just fine with the children at Evergreen School, even they are beginning to see a downside.
“My mom says her daughter gets to warm up inside the car while she has to shovel around the car and freeze outside,” said Lailah Fofana, 7.
Lailah explained that the snow has been causing car accidents and blocking cars from driving. She knows her mom has had problems getting around the area.
Amara understands that her parents don’t love the snow like she does. “They don’t like it when they have to shovel the driveway and they don’t get paid because they don’t go to work,” she said.
And Cyrus is worried about his mother’s friend who is old and sick and was trapped at home during the blizzard. “Now he’s in the hospital,” Cyrus said. “The ambulance took him away.”
But in their hearts, most of children were like Amaya Suarez-Findlay.
“I want more snow, a lot more snow,” said Amaya, 4.
Amaya listed the things one can make with snow: snow caves, snow slides, snow angels and snowmen. But as much as this 4-year old cherishes the season, she is equally enthusiastic about spring.
“I don’t want it to be winter forever!”