Moment: December 23, 2017, 7:15 a.m.

Horton Park

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With a temperature near zero, it was one of the brilliant, clear, crisp mornings that are the epitome of deep winter in Minnesota. Sun breaking over the horizon ricocheted off old snow polished by the wind to shiny smoothness. Walking through the park, listening to the hollow creaks and squeaks of snow under my boots, chirping birds were the last thing I expected to hear.