A wonderfully Frozen story

Should you stand and peer very closely at frozen objects, you cannot help but be fascinated by the stillness of their petrified beauty.

The lovely snowflakes formed on your window on a snowy day.

The leafless trees with their stark branches pointed to the stars, covered in melting icicles, and dripping rainbows in the sunshine, forming lovely prisms of light.

The stark terror of watching brave skaters on a frozen pond, thinking "the ice can break at any moment and they may fall in", but they are somehow joyfully enjoying themselves, held there by gravity and sheer gravitas.

But what if you were me, THE POND, biting your, well let's say well manicured imaginary nails every time one of the two or four legged things came zooming across you.

There I am quietly and coolly and coldly, in a good way, enjoying my morning when, whiz, whiz they go, back and forth and around, not thinking that they are really, really upsetting my peace and quiet.

My ice is not always sturdy or reliable upon all my surfaces human things. I just want to warn you.

I am shouting really loudly, but I realize my voice has a quiet crescendo that resonates all around, but silently it echoes back to me.

I AM THE FROZEN POND. HEAR MY VOICE. SILENCE.

I will be the catcher in the cold.

But, be warned, I cannot control your buoyancy.

Excerpts from answers to buoyancy questions on 'Bing'. Yes I can read.

'The reason warm water is more buoyant than cold is that its molecules have more energy and are moving around more. This makes warm water less dense and it will rise above denser, colder water'. End quote.

'I just read that cold water weighs more than warm water. This makes sense, as molecules condense at lower temperatures. But it got me to thinking...if cold water is heavier, wouldn't you be more buoyant in cold water than you would in warm water, all other things being equal? This topic was never addressed in my OW or AOW classes, so maybe the difference is too minute to consider. But has anybody had any experience with this or heard of this?'. End quote.

I may seem to be rambling, but I'm just trying to let you know the many dangers.

The truth is, don't tell anyone, but I absolutely enjoy myself when all the ice loving revelers come streaking across my surface and dance and twirl and spin and fly and land happily and safely. They place their absolute trust in my ability to support their supple bodies.

They bend and move easily, so flexibly and gracefully executing their pirouettes, plies, arabesques and attitudes. I could watch them forever.

The lovers come at night, holding hands and smooching and giggling they dance their precarious dance.

Sometimes others poke holes in me, ouch!, it would hurt if I were not totally frozen from the cold, I am numb, so it's ok. Then they catch some of the fish, these fish can be so ticklish zooming here and there all the time way down below the ice,

It is not always happiness and joy though. Unhappy people come here too. Sometimes one stands on the edge and shouts at the one on the ice. They argue about life, love, loss, missed opportunities, opportunities they hope to regain and changes they want to realize in their lives.

Sometimes it is the laughter and all out fun and joy of the children, running free and without fear or worry, their parents cautioning them to go slowly, or don't go over there, stay close, be careful of the thin parts of the ice.

And the happy pets, chasing their loving owners onto the ice, they stop and bark at me when they encounter their reflection. I so wish that I could bark back at them. I am pretty sure that I could scare them silly. But that would be bad. Bad pond!.

They really do put an awful lot of trust in me.

Sometimes I let them down and it makes me so sad.

Sometimes someone goes below the ice and comes home to stay with me.

They stay with me in the pond for the long thaw.

Where do you go when you plunge into my depth and the cold water totally embraces your form, you lose control and flail your arms uncontrollably in order to find your balance.

Just be still, I caution, listen to my voice, let me help you regain your motion. But, now your ears are more attuned to your fears. My voice does not resonate and I am distressed.

I love you so. I love that you will spend a long winter with me.

They will come for you when the waterfowls are enjoying the melting of the ice, I will protect you until then.

EVERY YEAR TELLS A NEW STORY ON FROZEN POND. THAT'S ME, GOODBYE FOR NOW.

I WILL KEEP ALL OF YOUR SECRETS AND RETURN THE ONES YOU DESIRE.