It snowed in Beijing today. Snow itself is a rare enough occurrence here, but the fact that the snow has blanketed the sidewalks, the foliage, the parked cars, and the dust underneath is ultra-rare and quite welcome in my book.

Sure, it's welcome because I prefer moisture in the air. Sure, it's welcome because it's pretty. But the real reason is that the first snow of the season to stick to the ground always reminds me of my childhood. Snow always meant fun. You could build stuff out of it. Huge things. Snowmen taller than yourself. It was like having way more playdough than you needed, save for the fact that it was really cold.

At it's most fun, snow caused school cancellations, and even when it didn't, I at least knew I'd have Christmas vacation. Back then vacation lasted forever. Now two weeks go by without warning. I'm still recovering from the previous weekend, and suddenly I notice that it's Saturday morning again.

So, I see the snow, I feel younger. I forget my concerns for a time, and just enjoy the fact that the world is doing something kind of strange. Tiny, unique crystals of water slowly fall out of the sky. Normally, I'd feel bad destroying a beautiful, unique thing like that, but they keep falling out of the sky endlessly, every winter. Why not make a ball out of it and throw it at your sister? There'll be millions more in the next few minutes.

When I was younger, I was frequently told some iteration of the phrase "you're wise beyond your years." It's a cliche and whatever, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed hearing it. Even as late as my early twenties a girl said to me, "You sound like you've had a lot of experience, like you're 30 or something."

Heh. I'd better start working on that having a lot of experience thing. I've less than a year left.

Somewhere along the lines... I don't know exactly when, I stopped hearing that "wise beyond my years" stuff. After a time, I started hearing something very different, about needing to grow up.

At almost 30, I have trouble getting myself to go to bed. It's not insomnia. I just don't like going to bed. Sleeping isn't any fun. I like drawing cartoons. I like playing networked games, board games and card games. I like hanging out with friends and meeting new people. I basically like all of the things I did when I was 15. Only the beverages have changed. I occasionally wonder if I'm going to regret the fact that I'm not a conventional grown-up.

Writing all this down has helped me clear my thoughts a bit, and I've decided that it would be a sad thing if the snow didn't make me feel as pointlessly happy as it does. Sure, I'm not a conventional grown-up, but who needs convention? I've found a way to support myself while living the life I want to live.

I don't believe many people can say that about themselves.