Let it snow!

by Donna Andrews of the Femmes Fatales.

Yes, I'm late posting this blog. No excuse, except that I've been so focused on the weather that it only just dawned on me that today was Monday.

Full confession here: I am a snow wimp. I am one of those people who makes snowstorms in the Washington Metropolitan area so amusing to people from many other parts of the country. Not sure which is worse: the Midwesterners and New Englanders laughing at how we go crazy at what they consider minuscule amounts of snow or the Floridians and Californians who feel obliged to tell us how balmy their weather is while we're shoveling white stuff. Sometimes I find it better to stay off of social media during a snowstorm. Better for my peace of mind.

And this snowstorm was made slightly more stressful than usual by the fact that for a variety of complicated reasons, I ended up being the person available to take my 15-year-old nephews to a four o'clock basketball game out in the next county. My natural reaction to news that a snowstorm is approaching is to make sure I have a supply of comfort food—forget the bread and milk; we're talking Diet Coke, some form of potato substance, and whichever species of lettuce is currently deemed low risk—and hunker down. Long before the first flake falls, I want to be sitting at the computer or in my recliner, facing no challenges more daunting than whether to read my book, watch Netflix, or start cooking dinner.

Didn't quite happen that way. I admit, I was a little anxious as I headed out, and the boys, who seem to have inherited their material grandfather's love of teasing, took care to point out every place where the snow was sticking. And by the time the game was over, it was sticking all over the place. But the roads weren't actually that bad, so in spite of being a snow wimp, on the way home I agreed to a detour to pick up Chinese food. And stayed to eat it with them before scampering home to cocoon.

Am I becoming less of a snow wimp? Probably not. But for the nephews, I'll brave a little snow.

Actually, rather a lot of snow. My neighbor who has been out cross-country skiing in the woods behind our houses estimates ten inches, maybe more. I don't see any reason to argue with him. Statisticians say this weekend's storm was the ninth largest January snow on record, and the seventh biggest two-day storm in the past 30 years. For those of us able to stay in for the duration, it was a surprisingly undramatic storm, depositing those 10-12 inches slowly but inexorably over a full 36 hours. And without causing widespread power outages. A civilized storm.

Still, I was glad when my snow guy showed up, a cheerful Spanish guy with whom I have no contract, but who can be relied on to show up after every snowfall and clear my driveway and walk beautifully for what I consider a reasonable price. And even more glad when I was able to get out today to run a few errands.

And I was ready for some snow, in part because I'm now working on Owl Be Home for Christmas—another Meg Christmas book. In which there will be snow. Vast amounts of it. It's going to be one for the record books. (In the DC area, the record is 28”, set in 1922. In Richmond, almost 22” in 1940. I think we'll plan for about three feet. Brace yourselves, Caerphillians!) So having a reasonably well-behaved if highly productive snow storm show up when I'm in the middle of writing about my characters being snowbound seems almost useful.

Here's hoping that if you were in the path of this recent storm, you're inside safe and warm with clean sidewalks and driveways and a plentiful supply of your preferred storm supplies!

 

Comments

[Mark]

So, it sounds like you want to hear about the weather here in CA. We actually got 2 inches of rain yesterday, and it didn’t make it to 50. Today will be more of the same. No snow, but as wintry as we get.

[Donnaandrews]

Oddly enough, I think I would miss snow if I never had any. That could be the mellow, survived-another-snowstorm me talking.

[krisneri]

After living most of my life in Southern California, I'm thrilled that I live in a place that gets some snow. We've actually had three snowstorms already this year. I love looking at it when it's coming down, and when everything is a pristine white. It's just that after it falls, I want it to go away for a while. Now, we're back up into highs of the 60s, and that's good. My snow need has been filled.