Today, Wilson Bentley's birthday, seems a good time to resume these conversations. Life jumps in every now and then and just makes demands, but it's good to be back, and good to be honoring Wilson Bentley.
He was born February 9, 1965. This is the 150th anniversary of his birth. It was no doubt cold and drafty in that Vermont farmhouse when the baby boy was wrapped and welcomed. But I'll bet he loved winter from the very beginning.
And on his birthday it's fun to think of children who now know about his snowflake photographs and think of him when it snows. I recently received a batch of letters from kids here in Iowa:
"I like the way that Wilson Bentley was so interested in snowflakes because I am interested in snowflakes."
"I liked your book because I love snowflakes..."
"I love snow."
Here's another view of Wilson Bentley. The video includes photos of Bentley that I've never seen before and remarks by a gracious and interesting woman who actually knew him.
Though I have known his story for decades now, it is still awesome to me that he took over 5000 photographs of snow in his lifetime--not for fame, not for money, not even for approval (his neighbors thought he was odd) but because he thought they were beautiful and wanted to share that beauty.
Thanks Wilson Bentley! And happy birthday!
