Snow Day! Then and Now

Just a short reprieve from my pirate journey, in honor of today's snow day, to share a fitting tale of parallel snow days at age 13 and 24.

 

An Excerpt from my first journal (Lisa Frank dolphins, for visual reference)

 

 

March 11, 2001   Age 13

 

Today is a truly momentous day in kid history.

My first snow day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I woke up and the snow wasn’t too bad, but the radio…

              See! They just said it again!! Like two seconds ago!!!

GASP…They said it AGAIN!!

 

They keep saying it is really bad—like sideways snow, zero visibility, power outages, terrible roads, but I don’t see anything out my windows. Partly because they are all wet.

 

The snow doesn’t look that deep, but it must be bad at the bus terminal. They are saying it is an actual “winter storm warning!”

I need to call someone. I am so excited!

We are having power outages, but it doesn’t bother me too much.

 

And now for the inspirational part… 

 

            As the sky begins to fade from black to navy to purple, the sun is dawning on a new world--a new day; a day where children rush to turn on the radio to hear the glorious news; a day when parents weep and evil principals cry their eyes out. I declare, with great pride, the first snow day of Jefferson County. I declare March 11, SNOW DAY!

 

~~~ **0** ~~~

Fast forward to age 24, teacher. 5:30 AM Alarm. Groan. Sit up. Shuffle to window. Snow drifted driveway. Stare. Contemplate. Look again. Snow drifted driveway. Husband parked behind me. My car in garage.

Driveway width= 1 car. Driveway length= 3 car. Snow=lots. Husband=asleep

 

Plan

Task 1: Remove snow behind husband’s car.

Task 2: Move husband’s car somewhere out of the way. Parking on street not legal...Lawn?

Task 3: Remove snow behind my car.

Task 4: Move my car somewhere ELSE out of the way...No idea.

Task 5: Put husband’s car back in driveway.

Task 6: Put my car back in driveway behind husband and wait for carpool buddy.

Task 7: …Figure out a better plan. Preferably one that isn't so hard.

 

5:42 AM. In the shower. Groggily trying to untangle the problem of car and driveway.  Phone rings. Turn of water. Dripping wet. Answer phone…Superintendent.

 

Stunned silence. Dreaming? No, dripping wet.

 

SNOOOOW DAAAAAY!

 

Too excited to go back to sleep! Finish shower. Bound into bedroom. Husband happy, but asleep.

 

Looking out into the snowy dark.

 

Think to self: This is the time of day I am always driving through the night, looking up at dimly-lit windows, and stewing with jealousy that those inside are cozy in their beds as the twilight brews its purple hues while I am on the cold path to work.

 

Triumphantly put PJs back on. Snuggle down into bed, watching dark blue sky through blinds.

 

Task 7: Check.

Tasks 1-6: Mentally tear into little pieces. Toss like confetti.

 

Too excited to go back to sleep? Never mind...Zzzzz