Snow Days
2009 January 28
Today is the second day that Abilene schools have been closed because of ice. ACU was closed yesterday and opens at noon today.
Even though we’ve been “open” both days at Highland, the pace is different. Much slower. Pulses slow down. Breathing deepens.
Don’t you have fond memories of bad weather days? (Do those of you in Florida or Southern California ever get those? If the sun isn’t shining all day, is that cause for “inclement weather”?)
Life has to slow down. Board games come out. Hot chocolate is served. Snowmen are built. Familiar movies are re-watched.
On the other hand, I’m guessing that for those who are single parents, a school-closed day creates all kind of childcare crises (unless you’re a teacher).
16 Responses
leave one →
One of my fondest memories of 8th grade is when we lived in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and in my science class the teacher had a barometer with a paper scroll so we could see how the pressure would go up and down. He would pencil in snow fall amounts when the pressure would drop and enough moisture would produce precipitation. Well… I vividly remember walking into class and seeing the barometer nosedive from earlier in the day. A week later, when we returned to school… 34 inches was penciled in next to the drop. Next to that, spending the day in a pick-up truck with a snow plow on the front two years ago in New Hampshire (for what seemed to be one day after the other) are just the beginnings of my love affair with God’s greatest weather miracle – SNOW!!!!
I’m with you, dps. Even in SW Missouri, we once had snowfall of over 30 inches. The drifts were up to six feet. My brother and I built an underground tunnel system in the street in front of our house.
Not many 30-inch snows in Abilene.
My wife is a teacher and prays as hard as any kid for snow days. Prayers were answered today as all city/county/private schools were cancelled in Memphis. After a treacherous trip to Little Rock and back, I arrived home around noon, went out and got us subs from Lenny’s and a movie. We’re in for the afternoon!
Now with the internet, I just work from home.
I remember an icy week in Abilene when I was working at Highland. We came to work every day but didn’t want to drive home for lunch on the ice. So several of us from the office ate at Crystal’s. Every single day that week. Good times. Can’t recall if you were in on that.
And now, a moment of silence for Crystal’s.
These last 3 years living in Malibu, we had “fire days.” Not quite the same relaxing feeling.
My blood pressure dropped just reading your post, Mike.
*aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh*
Golden/whitish Spread qb
We had over a foot of snow in Salem, Oregon in December. There was even more in Portland. I work for a nursery/garden center, which basically had to shut down, so I stayed home for over a week. My wife still had to go to work because she works for the state. When buses with chains are sliding around the roads, there is no way I’m going to drive on them. The problem with Portland snow compared to other places is that it is almost always preceded or followed (or sometimes mixed) with freezing rain and ice. I know lots of people that got stir crazy by being stuck in their houses, but I was fine staying indoors. One can never have too much hot chocolate.
I guess those Global Warming™ “deniers” are sounding a little wiser. Working in a nursery, we could use some of it right about now.
ummm… not only in Florida and SC, but here in Colorado we don’t get snow days… case in point: two inches of snow and -3 yes -3 temps on Monday and not even a two hour delay!!! Suck it up people! Just kidding…
No snow days in Panama City, FL. A wonderful 72 here this afternoon
Snow days are a way of life in Michigan, but it really has to be deep or we would never go to school in the winter. I mostly remember my husband digging out the driveway and the snow plow coming by and plugging it back up again and him loosing his temper. Do not have fond memories of snow days because the electric often went off on those days and the pipes would freeze.
In my hometown of Hamburg, Iowa the city fathers still barricade Argyle Street so sledders can come flying down Dean’s Hill. There is nothing like tearing down Dean’s Hill with the wind ripping into your face and your frozen fingers trying to guide your sled before you go flying off and smash your little skull against a tree! Then trudge back up the hill dragging your sled to do it all over again. And again. Until dark fell and you had to go home, hoping for a steaming bowl of Campbell’s soup.
Cute story frome the Obamas this morning…seems the two girls were out of school today, something unusual for these Chicago natives. The young ladies could not believe it. One said to her daddy something like, “Not only did we have to go to school, we even had RECESS on days like today!”
Deana, I join you in the moment of silence for Crystal’s. Weird to think of everyone having snow days this week. It’s been well into the 90s here in Salvador all week!
We were playing cards at Culver Palms during the riots in 92. Wouldn’t consider it a snow day but it was quiet none the less. Then drove for 4 hours to Orange County (30 miles). Remember getting out of the car around the airport and just watching the fires burn around the city and hearing KLOS playing “Burning Down the House”. Not often you can get out of your car on the Freeway in LA.
Nothing much changes for us on a snow day, being homeschoolers, but I have noticed that there is a more relaxed feeling to the day. It’s kinda odd.