Snow Day

The Boston snows have made it hard for us to know how to feel about our snow here.  Seems insignificant.  We really haven't had very much.  But today it did snow all day long, and by 6 PM there was about 10" of heavy, pristine snow.  Off and on all day, people from the neighborhood shoveled the walkways, cleared cars and scraped ice.  Schools were closed and just about everyone stayed home for the day.  Many people worked from home.

I am still in my pajamas. I had a busy day, but I never got dressed.  At about 9:00 in the morning I sent an email to the community: an open invitation to come over for hot chocolate or tea at 10:30.  It has never occurred to me to do something like this before, but Jon was out of town and it seemed like a waste of resources to have this nice fire and relatively  clean house all to myself.

At 10:30 the first neighbors arrived.  We had popcorn and hot drinks and sat by the fire.  Then the next wave arrived, with the small children.  People kept coming and going, Anna and Gordon made themselves some eggs, the kids played games on iPads.  Chess games, knitting, computer work.  The last people left at 3:00.  I would not have predicted that tea time could last so long, but it was nice to have such an easy way to hang out with people -- with no agenda.

After that I pulled my snow pants and boots on and walked over to see my mother and Michael.  Jim walked over too after putting the loader away, and we all had soup together. 

Then there was a big shoveling event just before dark, and lots of slipping and sliding. I think I fell down three times today, all the way onto my back, but I was wearing enough puffy clothes that I never got hurt.  I imagine I will be stiff and sore tomorrow after the shoveling, but the falls were nothing, thank goodness.

Betsy and Kenyon and Jack and I went to Anna's house for dinner.  Where and when can it seem normal to be in your pajama pants all day and host a big daytime event at home, visit your mother, and then go to dinner down the street? Snow days take away all the rules.