When a cousin in Los Angeles told me her son might apply to SU, I was thrilled. Then young Josh backed out because “the winters are so cold.”

I had heard this before, whenever I told people I was from Syracuse. Yet I love our winters. Why?

The answer came to me as I strolled downtown, seeing how close buildings were to each other and taking in city life.

My haiku came to me when I realized that our bitter winters, no matter how tough on open road or field, became magical on city streets.