Dateline Oaxaca. Mexico. Where Margaret had her birthday party last year. We couldn't resist when our Seattle friend Valerie said she was going to be spending a couple of weeks here in February. We'll be here just one week. Looking forward to no commitments, no schedule, and most of all no cold.
Yes, snow and cold dominated not just family news but national news. We had our biggest snowfall since I've lived in Pittsfield, and judging by what we saw and felt driving and flying here, I'm pretty sure there were superlatives used to describe the weather everywhere. Heck, even in Dallas where we laid over for a few hours, it was 28 degrees.
Something about a snowfall is exciting and fun. Watching it come down and then checking its progress every hour, gauging accumulation against some physical marker (a fence post or a lawn ornament), calling up or texting friends and family to compare - it's really magical. We even ventured out. Mary wanted to shovel the walk, and it was so light, that the height didn't seem to matter. I, stupidly, walked over to the lake, trudging through a foot or more and listening to the tall pine creak and groan. Before falling on me, I imagined the obituary.
Anyway, Chicago was spared the snow but got the cold; Fairport got snow from the storm and the lake, Washington got snow, then ice, and Princeton somewhere in between.
The best part of the snow is grandchildren. Nobody enjoys snow like a kid. We loved taking the phone outside to show those folks in London or India what they were missing. We sent photos to Margaret who was on the beach in Mexico for a friend's birthday party what she was missing. Her photos that came back were of sun and sand and infinity pools.
Worst part of snow? Ask Andrew S who spent 90 minutes digging his car out of the snow/ice. Or school cancelled but not work, or at least telework.
Shoveling for us was almost easy until the plows dumped their slush at the end of our driveway that turned to ice in the negative temps. I didn't need to go to the gym that day. What a workout.
When we look at the weather in Pittsfield this coming week, the temperatures won't get above freezing. Neither in Newark where we parked the car in a snowbank. I shudder to think what we'll face on our return.
In the meantime though we'll enjoy the respite.
Love to you all from aqui, abojo.
John Dickson
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