I went outside to scoop snow off the drive and found myself reminded of both my parents,

[Atticus]

each for a different reason.

First, as I walked out in the bright sunlight of a brilliantly clear day, I could not help but notice the millions of tiny sparkling points in the snow as individual crystals, viewed from just the right angle, refracted the light and displayed every color in the spectrum for an instant. And, I recalled my Mom first pointing this beauty out to me as a small boy and telling me those were "God's diamonds".

Then, as I pushed the fluffy snow off the concrete drive, I realized that I was being kept warm by my Dad's blanket-lined OSHKOSH denim chore coat and his moosehide mittens with wool inserts. Dad had split a lot of wood wearing that coat and those mittens. Wearing them felt like a hug.

Thanks, Mom.

Thanks, Dad.

I was lucky to be your son.

[badhair77]

1. A warm moment in the cold, both literally and figuratively.

Priceless. I’ll look at the fresh snow in a new light.

[Totally Tunsie]

2. Sweet tribute.

Here's another hug for you.

[St. Alfonzo]

33. Seconded.

[lisa58]

4. So beautiful- thank you for sharing that...

I lost my husband and daughter- my parents and aunts and uncles- and I sit with them every night. I know the hug you feel when those memories surface.

[Sienna86]

5. What a lovely tribute to your parents.

Makes me wish I have the same impact on my kids.

[irisblue]

6. My Mom called falling snow Sky Diamonds. Those are good memories to have

[OAITW r.2.0]

7. There's not a day that goes by, when I don't think about those that are gone from my life.

The trigger can be an object, a picture, or a simple thought.....

I spent 4 hours today scooping and shoveling snow. Did it happily, knowing that the dry snow was perfect to get the job done. I'm now enjoying a gin Bloody Mary, watching the KC/Cinn game (getting interesting) and reading wonderful posts on DU....like yours!

[GentryDixon]

8. What nice nice remembrance of your Mom and Dad.

My Dad had a houseful of only girls, so I was his sidekick. I climbed on roofs to shovel snow to prevent collapse, helped him do any plumbing or electrical task. He was happy to guide me, and I was eager to learn.

When I married, my husband was surprised at the tasks I was able to accomplish. I just took it upon myself to do things like install my sprinkler system electrical. It's been my job for the last 30+ years to adjust & eventually install a new system. I dig up & replace sprinklers that go bad over the winter.
All of these little tasks I have my Dad to thank for giving me the confidence that I could do anything.

My Mom taught me the joy of cooking & baking. I got her 14" cast iron skillet when she passed. There was lots of sausage gravy made in that skillet to go with her homemade biscuits. 👩?🍳

[MyOwnPeace]

9. Very nice indeed......

great memories of such simple things.

Wonder what memories the kids of those Carhartt burners are going to have?

[mgardener]

10. What a wonderful tribute!

They were lucky to have you for their son.

[JudyM]

11. Similar experience yesterday in my dad's big parka

Warmer than any of my coats, so I put it on to shovel in the blizzard. Kept me warmer than I could’ve imagined. When I got inside and took it off, I just hugged it, almost holding him again with a heart full of love and gratitude. ❤️

[cayugafalls]

12. I am glad you have fond memories of your parents. You made me smile today...thank you.

[screamcheese]

13. The Sky World

Remembering those who have passed on to the sky world.

[MLAA]

14. How wonderful to feel close to both of them today 💖

[Marthe48]

15. Those memories keep them close in your heart

TY for sharing.

[rsdsharp]

16. I shoveled a lot of snow as a kid in NE Iowa wearing those kinds of mittens.

We called them choppers mitts. The originals spilt at the top seam when I was about 12. We bought a new pair, but they were so much stiffer than the originals, that I rarely used them.

[zeusdogmom]

17. A beautiful post

Made me smile - a good thing. Blessings to you.

[TNNurse]

18. Sometimes, just a small memory has so much meaning.

Thanks for sharing yours.

[secondwind]

19. What a beautiful post! ❤️❤️

[LoisB]

20. Thank you for sharing those beautiful thoughts of your Mom and Dad. They must have been

wonderful people.

[nuxvomica]

21. I remember being tasked to chop up ice after ice storms

It would sometimes get very thick on the front porch and I'd be out there with a large flat-head screwdriver, a hammer and a long-necked ice chopper to chip away at it. Despite the work being tiresome, I would study the ice, looking for the best spot and the best chopping angle to free up large pieces with one stroke. I fancied myself a sort of diamond cutter, and the chunks I liberated were just as beautiful as anything from Tiffany's. That was the thing about winter as a kid. It was often bitter cold, and the shoveling and chopping were tough, but there was beauty and magic all around, and there was nothing like the quiet after a snowfall, when the clearing of thoroughfares was finally done, and the blanket of tiny blue diamonds enclothed everything.

[usaf-vet]

22. My similar memories extend back two generations. Parents and grandparents. Lucky to remember both.

Dad and his WW II Navy peacoat. The wonderful meals he cooked on a tight budget.
Mom and her lessons on how to use a sewing machine. As well as needle and thread. I was a hit at USAF Bootcamp. Sewing name tags.
My Maternal Grandfather how to use a hand saw and a hammer. From a cabinet maker.
My Maternal Grandmother teaching my wife to make Mock Cherry Pie. Black toast from the woodstove.
My Paternal Grandfather and Grandmother their old English traditions and food. Tea, crumpets, beef, and kidney pie, Lyle Syrup.

A small example of great memories of those loved ones who have passed

My similar memories extend back two generations. Parents and grandparents. Lucky to remember both.

[lucca18]

23. What a wonderful post!😍

Thank you for sharing!

[ancianita]

24. Awww yeah, this is the Atticus I remember.

Keep loving yourself. Thank you for sharing your heart here; it does mine a lot of good.

[bluboid]

25. beautiful - thank you!

[IcyPeas]

26. what a wonderful post Atticus

[samnsara]

27. how beautiful :)

[ificandream]

28. Awww, sweet....

[PittBlue]

29. I love this.

What beautiful memories to share.

[Fla Dem]

30. Those are truly wonderful moments

When we feel our parents there with us again.

I know for many people memories of their parents are the last thing they want because of a difficult childhood.

I’m truly sorry for those who cannot fondly look back on their childhood years.

[mia]

31. A beautiful tribute to your parents, Atticus.

Thank you for your post.

[Karadeniz]

32. So happy for your sweet memories!!!

[MissMillie]

34. Thank you for reminding me to cherish the good stuff.

My mom left us a year and a half ago, and what would have been her 88th birthday is in just a few days.

I feel her the most when I'm in the kitchen.

[The Jungle 1]

35. I kept some of my Dads coats for the exact same reason.