snow days

so i really enjoyed our snow day this week.  the last big snow we had in richmond was 2003.  i remember this because that was the january we got sadiedog.  most of the pictures the breeder took of her were outside in the snow.  she cam home with us at the end of january.  i was going back to australia with my friend, kate, who had arranged for us to go & do provide some training.  we we were leaving around the beginning of march & i would be gone 3 weeks.  the weekend before i was to leave, i came down with the flu.  it was a nasty flu - i forget how many days i'd been struggling with it.  by saturday, i couldn't even keep water down.  i'd been feeling awful for several days- finally, i asked danny to take me to the ER.  that really alarmed him- when i am not feeling well, i want to be left alone & i just tough it out.  the visit to the ER that night was only the 3rd time in my life i'd gone to the ER.  & it was snowing to beat the band.  i forget how much snow we ended up with that saturday- between 8" - 12".  if you ever need to go to the ER & don't want to wait, go during blizzard conditions.  i remember putting sadie in her crate & going to the hospital.  they were able to get me rehydrated & give me some morphine for the pounding headache i'd had for at least a day due to dehydration.  i was able to leave the following week for australia as planned.  & that was the last big snow i remember in richmond.  

when i was in graduate school, we had a major snow.  january  of 1982- i think the schools were closed for two weeks straight.  my sister worked for VCU at that time & didn't have to go to work for almost a week, nor did i have classes.  it was so fun......  we got a spiderman saucer & whipped down the hills.  there is nothing quite so beautiful as the hush of a new-fallen snow.  i remember how much i used to love getting in the car for the first time in a snow- i would often just sit there & listen to the quiet.    it does seem that we used to have more frequent major snows that we have now.

another major snow i recall is when i was living in va. beach. i know the month & year - january 1989- because my sister came down for the weekend- caitlin was almost 4 years old & daniel was soon to be one .  i had quit smoking about four weeks earlier- i was a 3-4 pack/day smoker & had quit cold turkey.  i was easily irritated! kathy had quit smoking as well- she smoked maybe a pack every two days back then- probably more when she was with me.  virginia beach got about a foot & a half of snow that weekend.  va. beach doesn't even own snow removal equipment- it was pretty wild.  we lived in a townhouse then & kathy was throwing daniel's used diapers out on the patio.  she would eventually take them out of our gate, around the corner & to the trash.  i had a major meltdown- i was so irrational-  it still embarasses me to this day.  she was rather gracious about it, really.  i remember walking up to zayre's (remember zayre's) & buying barbie stuff for caitlin (& i).  i was so sad when she outgrew barbie- because i hadn't & then i had no one to play with!

the mcdaddy of snowstorms, though, was the blizzard of '66.  we were living in annandale (northern va) by then- i was 10 years old.  i remember my brother would take the sled & go to the safeway that was near our home every day & bring back groceries.  we had some pretty decent hills in that neighborhood & it was such a blast to pick up speed down a really hugh hill.  i think we were snowed in about two weeks or so.  i forget how much snow we received that year-  the blizzard only dumped about 12-13" of snow; however, it had been a very snowy january & there was already about 15" on the ground.  the wind gusts associated with the storm were 50-60 mph & white out conditions prevailed.  the airports were closed for 3 days.  there were drifts up to ten feet high.  plowing was futile & there were even some food shortages, requiring some rationing.  thank goodness such a storm occurred when i was living at home- if it were to happen today, my cupboards would be so bare!  whenever richmond predicts snow & there is the traditional rush to ukrop's & kroger, i often don't go because i hate to be thought of as a anxious snow girl-  more than once, we have been caught with only a can of kidney beans (& diet coke, of course) in our larder.  i remember one big snow- maybe 1994?  we walked up to the brook run ukrops every day- it took a while getting through the drifts!

so those are my snow memories that come to mind.  i doubt i shall ever outgrow a snow day!  even when i'm self-employed.  there have certainly been times when a storm is predicted & i check my schedule to see how many appointments will have to be cancelled...  it is so wonderful to have found time- kind of like finding a $20 bill in the pocket of your winter coat the first time you wear it that season.

i hope everyone enjoyed their snow day & that it was relaxing.  we certainly did- it was so nice lying in bed sunday night & watching the snow come down.  & feel grateful for the presence of a home & a warm husband & a warmer (albeit snoring) dog.