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It happened a few weeks ago.

I had just risen from the sanctuary of sleep, discontent with the prospect of having to tackle another day through blinding snowstorms and slippery ice from which the darkest shades of bruises/cuts/moments of injured pride were yielded.

With reluctant hands, I lifted the curtains from the nearest window that I could find before peering outside with the intellectual curiosity of a slice of bread. Shock! Gasp! Instead of being greeted by the usual winter wonderland that had become synonymous with the Canadian identity, I was entertained by a most disturbing scene of partially crisp green grass, couples prancing about in springtime attire and the sound of vehicles gliding effortlessly on roads that were devoid of any traces of snow.

Ah yes, global warming certainly did do wonders.

Suddenly all those facts and figures that were once being laid down by the geography teacher whilst one looked on in a less-than-doe-eyed fashion has become hauntingly real. As I stood there, half-rejoicing, half-devastated, I could not help but be plagued with feelings of nostalgia: childhood mornings spent chasing snowflakes, hearing the odd snippet of obscene language being uttered by the driver of an automobile that had just veered off road due to icy conditions, and, when spring comes, the utter joy of discovering that I had miraculously gained enough hamstring stamina to run a marathon after having spent the last hundred days or so persisting through knee-deep snow.

Those were some glorious times. But must all good things come to an end?

With a new year, there emerges a new wave of greenhouse gases that are woven into the delicate fabric of our atmosphere. And though this unseasonable temperature may be appreciated by individuals who express endearment toward a rare escape from the brutal cold, or perhaps valued by those who are content with not having to massacre their bank accounts in order to hibernate to Costa Rico, I cannot help but feel that part of our cultural identity has been lost following the rise in mercury.

One might vividly recall the days when the annual snowfall rate averaged to well more than 100 centimetres, when salt fragments littered the ground, and the ambient beeping of a snowplow backing up provided a catchy melody that remained etched in the mind.

But now, those days are scarce. The banishment of that microscopic, intricately woven piece of ice fluff that once promised countless hours of joy/ bombardment/ traffic has resulted in the closing down of ski resorts, outdoor hockey/ skate rinks and other recreational facilities we once depended on to cultivate not only an appreciation for leisure exercise or good cheer, but our also our unique perspective of the world.

Although one might occasionally stumble upon a commercial advocating why we should start preserving or reducing, it's not always a sure guarantee the advice will be taken.

One such reason is attributed to the growth in technology over the years, and how virtually everything relies on the burning of carbon-based fossil fuels. Then again, there are Smart and hybrid cars, but such vehicles have not yet gained prominence. However, there are those small everyday things that have gained prominence and are fairly easy to manipulate for the future success of our planet, such as walking, planting a tree, or switching off the lights whenever a room is not used.

Hopefully, there will soon be enough resources made available to stabilize the accumulating concentration of impending doom that lingers here at present day. If not, then hopefully during the time of the people that global warming will affect the most: the future generation.

 

Millie Ho is a high school student in North York.