As I stare out my window at the blizzard blowing and the thick layers of snow hugging the trees and bushes, I am at awe seeing the power of Mother Nature. She has turned the world into a gray and white (mostly white) winter wonderland. After bravely venturing out my front door to first hand experience this record breaking storm (second one in 3 days), I had to retreat back into the house because there was nowhere to go. The roads were barely plowed and the sidewalks were un-shoveled. But the beauty of it left me breathless. I felt like a kid again.
There is something magical about an immense snowstorm. It cleans the air, covers everything with a white sugar coating and keeps the cars and pollution off the roads for at least a day and a half. The air smells and tastes sweet. Maybe it's nature's way of cleaning house.
It also forces us all to slow down, drink hot cocoa, watch TV. I'm all for that (although I am getting a little tired of watching newscasters build snowmen). As long as we (I live in PA with my 89 year old dad) don't have a power outage I am content to sit here and stare out the window as I write.
Someday I can tell my great nieces and nephews that I survived the winter of 2009-2010. When I was young I remember a blizzard where our family had to cook in the fireplace and all sleep together on the living room floor because we lost electricity. The memory is etched in my mind of a very special time in my early life. We (one brother and two sisters, mom, and dad) all grew closer through that. We played games and told stories as there was no TV.
Blizzards also seem to bring out the best in us. Everyone helps one another and the neighbors who walk by are all outgoing and friendly. It's like we share a common bond. I found that to be true in leading up to both of these storms. In the grocery stores where everyone is stocking up for the Big Blizzard, there is a buzz of excitement and cordiality not usually there.
I am beginning to feel what it must be like to live in Minnesota or Wisconsin. However, now I know why those men were so grumpy in Grumpy Old Men. For as much as I love the beauty of it all, I could do without the shoveling and the cold air, and the icy roads and the slush that comes later.
But for now I am in awe and enjoying Mother Nature's Winter Blessing.