Portland lies under a blanket of snow. A goosedown comforter of snow. This isn't our usual precious one inch, which releases gleeful kids from school and shuts down the entire metro area for a day. No, this is a history-making, record-breaking, eleven-days-and-counting Snowzilla wonder, and it's snowing again as we speak.
I love watching the flakes drift down. I love walking a mile and a half to the grocery store for provisions, seeing how magically my dear familiar neighborhood is transformed. I love how the snow makes people happy, so that everyone I meet smiles and calls hello. I love it that we're going to have lox and bagels for Christmas dinner, because that was what I could fit into the backpack. I love it that nature has given us a gentle kick, letting us know that no matter how hard we try, we don't have nearly the control over our lives that we think we do. It's a good reminder. And now, a carol from our own Lisa Nowak, fellow Portland Kidlit writer and cat lover. (I also highly recommend her beautiful essay on snow, Christmas, and community...including some fascinating Christmas history, which pleased the geek in me no end).
A very merry Christmas to all!
6 comments:
Gentle kick???
Portland may have gotten a gleeful little swat to the hiney (all in good fun), but here in Pocatello, Idaho, we are nursing a bruised coccyx.
I got a call this morning and had to head down to the hospital (turned out to be an Addisonian). The people said, "We're only 5 minutes away", and I said, "Better give me 45". The roads had three foot drifts, but fortunately they were far enough apart that I could get going 40 mph between them so I managed to blast through. One after another after another. Pretty sporty trip, all in all. Now I'm stuck at the hospital since I'm afraid that if I go home I won't be able to make it back to check on my patient.
"I love it that we're going to have lox and bagels for Christmas dinner, because that was what I could fit into the backpack" - Yeah, that is nice. Wish I was there.
"Snowzilla wonder." I love it!
Thanks for the plug, and the link, but most of all for sharing in the giddiness of snow and Christmas. It's nice to know I'm not alone in seeing past the inconvenience to the wonder. For a minute there, I thought they were going to haul me back to the third grade.
Like you, I am giving a silent thumbs up to Mother Nature for her ability to knock us arrogant humans down a peg and remind us that we aren't invincible. A storm like this is great for leveling the playing field. No matter how much money or power you have, the weather won't give you special treatment.
On another note, I was watching "A Christmas Story" the other night and it made me think of both you and Ruby. I love that movie. Though my grade school experience came some 35 years after Ralphie's, there's something about his classroom that made me feel nostalgic.
Happy New Year, Christine! Our snow seems to have melted overnight. I can't say I'm sorry to see it go -- for now. But I kind of hope we get some more in January or February. Not this much, of course. I love it too, but it made me miss out on shopping and parties this season!
Hope you're well! Lisa's song is a hoot :-)
Walter--I meant "gentle kick" for us Portlanders. Because really, compared to what nature does elsewhere, this is peanuts, and I didn't want it to sound like we're in dire suffering or anything. (Portland does like to be very dramatic about stuff like this, though.)
Lisa, if they're hauling you back to 3rd grade, I'm going with you! "Christmas Story," huh? I've never seen it...but it's going on the list. Sounds good.
Hi, Laini! Yeah, the melt is unbelievably fast. Late last night, snow still blanketed our (north-facing) yard...by early this morning, it's all gone except for a couple of tiny patches. I thought I'd be shoveling the sidewalk today, but the rain took care of it. (Thank you, rain!)
And I'm holding out hope for Jan/Feb, too. Just a little more magic, please!
I am so jealous! All our snow melted before Christmas. But I'm sure we'll be getting more before Old Man Winter is through with us!
Glad you had a merry Christmas!
Thanks, Melissa! Our snow melted almost overnight (at least in my part of town) and now we're back to rain, rain, rain. I wouldn't mind another bit of white weather before winter is over (I know I should be careful what I wish for...)
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