But then, so when, and then

On mornings when the wind chill
is 10°F
and freezing rain
has left a sheet of ice
under the inch of fresh snow,
the hardest part is
getting out the door.

But then
I grow warm walking up the hill.
And the snow sparkles.
And I see tracks friends made on their early morning walk.
And it isn’t as slippery as I expected.
And my footsteps make a crunching sound that makes me think of cornflakes.

So when
I recognize Asha’s I-want-to-go-this-way stance,
I say “Sure,” knowing it will add a mile to our walk.

And then
I notice
the hardest part
becomes
leaving wind and snowy ice behind
through that same door.