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The thick, yellow pine pollen is finally subsiding. Or it could merely be a temporary reprieve brought about by recent rain. It is difficult to think of anything other than pine pollen this time of year. What concerns me is the amount of negative publicity circulating about the spring dust.

Snow can be just as annoying and problematic, yet we love snow. When it comes to natural disasters, snow is more dangerous than pollen. So, why do we loathe the soft, brightly colored tree emission? Let's compare the two as I make an effort, on behalf of Mother Nature, to introduce alternative considerations regarding our interactions with pine pollen.

First, let's consider general environmental factors. Snow is cold and wet. It has to be 32 degrees or colder outside to achieve snow. And when frozen precipitation does descend, the clouds block the sun creating a gray, dismal day. Yet for the soft, warm pollen to fall from the trees, Mother Nature requires warming trends and a brilliant blue sky, dotted with white, puffy clouds.

There is also the issue of health. Snowy weather causes a rise in colds and flu, keeping us home from work and school with stuffy heads, achy bodies and nauseous stomachs. The pollen-filled spring induces allergy attacks, forcing us to replace the empty box of tissues on the desk. From a sick-days standpoint, pollen is much gentler to our bodies.

Snow is difficult to brush off a car in the morning, especially after a cold night creates a layer of rock-hard ice. Who enjoys getting up extra early to clear snow, de-ice and warm up a car? All that is required for pollen removal is a quick wipe or rinse. And the pollen doesn't blow off your car, splattering on the windshield of the car behind you, hindering that driver's field of vision.

Snow days, however, are tougher to argue. When snow falls, children celebrate a day off from the daily grind of school. Once they get the green light from parents who are trying to work from home, they bundle up and head outside for hours of slipping and sliding down white mounds of frosty fun. Returning to the house dripping of sweat, mucus and melted snow, children are greeted by hot chocolate and a bowl of warm, luscious soup. What could be better?

I will tell you what could be much, much better. When the pollen falls, Mother Nature is signaling that the school year is nearly over. It won't be closing for a day or week, but for the entire summer. A thick dusting of pollen indicates the last weeks of school, proms and graduations.

There is no hot chocolate or homemade tomato soup at the end of a dusty spring day. What we do have is the chance to brush pine pollen off the outdoor furniture, sit around a fire pit and toast marshmallows. Hot chocolate and soup create a mess in the kitchen. When toasting marshmallows, the only utensil used is a pointy stick that can be tossed in the fire once the marshmallow bag is empty.

I will concede that you cannot make pollen men or engage in pollen-ball fights. However, pollen angels are possible. Of course, I do not recommend this activity for those who suffer severe allergies or asthma. If you are one of the lucky ones who can tolerate the pollen, consider plopping down onto the yellow dust and creating a pollen angel or two. It's good exercise and might just put a smile on the faces of drippy-nosed, sneezy neighbors and friends.

Skiing would not work well on mounds of pollen dust. But, if enough pollen is tracked onto laminate flooring, you can have a great time sliding. Simply throw on a pair of socks -- I recommend yellow or another color -- take a few quick steps and then stop short as you throw your weight forward.

Pollen sliding doesn't require expensive clothing or gear. You can enjoy pollen sliding in your own home rather than traveling to a pricey mountain resort. Just be sure you have plenty of floor space free of furniture and knick-knacks. We don't want pollen sliding injuries to outnumber skiing injuries.

When you consider the whole picture, objectively comparing the pros and cons of snow versus pollen, you cannot deny that all this annoying, yellow pine pollen covering every nook and cranny of everything from the dashboard of your car to the slats of your living room blinds is much more desirable than fluffy, white, frosty snow.

However, if you are still not convinced of the benefits of seasonal pine pollen, you are in luck. Pollen-free, hot, sticky, long, humid summer days sprinkled with afternoon thunderstorms and swarms of mosquitoes are just around the corner.

Micki Bare is a columnist for the Arkansas News Bureau and the Courier-Tribune in Asheboro, N.C., and author of the book, "Relative Expressions." She lives in Asheboro with her husband and three children. Her e-mail address is mickibare@inspiredscribe.com