Snow Days

Brrrrr....... I bet you're freezing, too!!  Today the high was in the mid-twenties, same tomorrow; wind chill is bringing the "feels like" temp in the single digits.  ENOUGH!!!!  Sheesh!!!  I'm forced to withstand winter with it's shameless, naked trees, lack of color, lack of sunlight, lack of daytime, so come on!!  ENOUGH, I SAY!!  On the positive side, daylight savings time is only 8 weeks away, so I'm sure the time will pass quickly hardy har har.... I know I sound like a crackpot, but I would really like some snow.  It's winter, it needs to snow.  When I was a little girl in West Virginia, it seemed like it started snowing in November and the snow stayed on the ground until March.  Actually, that did happen.  It snowed all the time in those West Virginia hills.  We all had sleds and we would have so much fun sledding.  Our house was situated near the top of a small hill.  A bunch of kids would gather at our house and take turns going down the snow packed street.  We would fly down the street and, if you were lucky, turn the sled onto the next street and continue your ride.  My sister and I usually rode double decker.  I would lie stomach down on the sled and she would lie on top of me.  Of course, this allowed me to drive the sled.  Every now and then, she would carry on enough to force me to allow her to drive, but when she was very young, she didn't have the strength to make the turn onto the next street and BAM!  We would hit the snow piled on the side of the road.  There was a good side to this - the walk back up the hill was shorter than turning the street and going all the way down.  We would stay outside sledding until our hands and feet were so frozen we couldn't stand it.  Even then, our mother would have to make us come inside.  There was an inside ritual, of course.  You had to stand at the door and peel off your wet boots, 2 layers of socks, snow pants, snow jacket, wet mittens, and wet hat.  All wet items were placed over the heat vents to dry quickly.  All snow pants and coats went to the basement to dry downstairs.  And then we would find an empty heat vent and put our hands and feet over them in an attempt to encourage any feeling that might be left to please, please return.  Our mother would bring us hot chocolate.  "Don't you dare spill that!"  And usually my sister and I would start fighting because that's what kids do when they're frozen and trying to thaw.  Or we would settle down and play a game of cards or paper dolls or something to pass the time.  And as soon as the mittens, socks, etc. would dry, back outside we went!  Every time it snows, I think of those days and all the fun times we had playing in the snow for hours.  Spring will be coming.  Enjoy the tulip.