Snow, Beautiful Snow

After – or during – a week like the one just past, every blogger and poster worth his/her salt must mention the weather. I have facebook friends who made hourly posts on the outdoor temperature and the depth of snow on their deck. So, I am obliged to tell you my experience of Arkansas Snomagedden, as some have dubbed it.

Last Sunday, the predictions were loud and clear (for Wednesday) and folks began to prepare for the storm.  My sis and I went to WalMart in the middle of the afternoon. I always hasten to say that I was not in panic mode. I really needed milk.  We entered as the last of the last-minute Super Bowl crowd was clogging the check out stands. Those left in the store aisles were stocking up like they expected to be snowed in for months. I find this strange. Because I don’t care what the weather conditions are, most Arkansans can’t stand to be cooped up indoors for more than 24 hours.  I live in a small town but on a main street, and there is always traffic moving, be it a blizzard, a monsoon or the tornado siren blaring away.

I want to tell the shoppers: You’re not going to need all that food. As soon as the last flake or drop of winter mix hits the ground, you’ll leave your warm home and go slip-sliding away to Sonic or McDonald’s.

On Wednesday – S Day – I went to work at  8:00 am because it was not snowing. Every school and church in the four surrounding counties had already cancelled, based on the forecast. The storm started at 8:10 and beautiful soft snow fell so fast and furious that when I left for home 45 minutes later, visibility was very poor and the soft snow very slick.

I spent a wonderful snow day of movies, naps, reading and home made potato soup.  Snow fell for 10 hours with no let up, leaving everything covered, the view out my windows a winter wonderland.

The second day, my office was closed and I slept late. The sun was shining but with the temperature in the low teens, nothing was melting, though traffic had partly cleared the street in front of my house. About the middle of the day, I discovered two things: one, I needed to mail a payment to avoid a $25.00 late fee and two, the dog food bag was almost empty.  I dressed in my warmest sweats, took the broom and swept off the car. Then I dropped my keys in the snow (which was about a foot deep).  I stood there a minute surveying the problem when I noticed the tiny hole in the snow and sure enough my keys were found much quicker than I deserved. The trip to the post office and Fred’s (at 5 mph) was uneventful and the rest of the day spent writing a short story for a contest and creating homemade chicken and dumplings.

By Friday, the road to my house had only occasional patches of ice, but my work place was still closed. I ventured out once more, this time carrying a bag of trash. I walk very carefully on ice and snow, which is a good thing because when my feet slid from under me it happened slowly and I sat down in the soft snow by my back steps. No harm – just a little difficulty standing since my feet kept slipping in the snow. This day I spent reading manuscripts for Central Arkansas Writers, my monthly critique group.  Thankfully, Saturday was beautiful and clear and the five of us were able to travel from as many directions to meet in Conway for our time together.

Today, 63 degrees and it’s like the snow never happened. Except for a very muddy yard and a stir-crazy dog.