Dec 23 2008
Do I Really Love It?
by Kathleen Fellows
Today I came face to face with my feelings about snow. I grew up near the ocean and never cared much for the beach. I preferred the mountains and still do. Thus my move to Oregon from Southern California was a dream come true. In the past 5 years we have had a little bit of ice and snow each winter but this year has given me a taste of what it’s really like to live with snow.
Our first day of snow was on a Sunday. It was beautiful and very cold. Before long all church activities for the day had been canceled. Little did we know this was to be the first in a series of cancellations. Monday there was no school. Then Tuesday there was no school. Day by day school was canceled. The last week of classes before Christmas vacation turned into an extra week of vacation.
Still, I loved the snow. We were occasionally able to get to the store and I was even able to drive out to see friends. As the grass emerged from beneath the melting snow I was hopeful that the weather would let up. That wasn’t to be. More snowfall on Saturday found us playing in the snow with the children. The snow play didn’t last long as the wind was blowing hard and the falling snow stung our faces. We came inside to have some hot cocoa so the snow was still our friend.
By Saturday night we knew there would be no church services on Sunday. I was getting nervous. Our Christmas choir had been scheduled to sing Sunday morning-CANCELED. The Christmas and children’s choirs were supposed to rehearse on Monday evening for our two candlelight services scheduled for December 23rd and 24th. Monday night we were told that rehearsal would be Tuesday night and both services would take place on Christmas Eve. I was beginning to get a little miffed at snow.
Tuesday morning and afternoon found me shoveling snow and warming up vehicles in the hopes that the children and I would be going to rehearsal. A couple of attempts to move the cars only ended with them both blocking the sidewalk. Under all that snow is a nice layer of ice. The children helped me pile up snow so they could play in the yard without being buried up to their chins. This is a lot of snow for the area. I wonder what’s going to happen when it all melts.
I am feeling kind of cranky that I can’t just drive to the store when I think of something I need. We are fortunate that a friend was able to get out to the store yesterday and he took Matt along. I’m frustrated that my honey and I can’t go out on a date. My temper is very short right now. I want to be in a good mood but I’m letting my limitations get in the way of that. Christmas Eve services were canceled for safety reasons. We are expecting another 3-5 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow. I am no longer dreaming of a white Christmas. That’s a guarantee unless temperatures soar tomorrow and melt all this snow away.
SO, do I really love snow? I guess we see things differently as adults than we do as children. Snow has a fantasy feel for someone living by the ocean. I would still choose being snowed in over sun and surf. Despite the feelings of frustration, anger and disappointment I still love snow.
