It snowed in my hometown of Roanoke, Virginia over the weekend. My wife was drooling as I showed her pictures that our son sent to us via Whats App. She is from here, Costa Rica, but we spent 10 years in Roanoke and the four seasons is what she misses most and of the season's sights she misses the leaves changing in the fall and the snow in the winter. I admit that I too miss the fall multicolored leaves but the shoveling of the snow I miss as much as I would having bypass surgery without the benefit of anesthesiology.

 

I was Skyping with a friend that lives in Virginia and we were discussing the good things that come with a snowfall. The peaceful feeling that you get while sipping a beverage of your choice as the gently falling snow slowly covers everything in its path. The silence that it brings all around you, especially during this Christmas time of the year. The kids playing in the snow and if you're really lucky they will wear themselves out and go to bed early and give you the opportunity to again enjoy the peaceful silence bestowed upon you by the snowfall. This is the time that you grow confused, should you thank God for this momentary bliss or curse him as you think of what is in store for you tomorrow.

 

You know of what I speak. Schools closed. Getting to work trying to avoid the crazies that either never have learned how to drive in snow or have temporary amnesia since last winter. The ugly black snow from the passing cars that deposit exhaust and throw up dirty water from the pavement. The dreaded cleaning off the car(s) and shoveling them out! If the snow was accompanied by a little ice as a topping, the scrapping of the car windows as you loudly curse under your breath. Trying to coach the key into frozen door locks. Discovering that the car battery has magically decided that it is not as strong as it use to be so you call the auto club for a jump or worse yet try to remember where you put those jumper cables at the start of summer when you cleaned out the trunk to make room for the coolers and beach toys. You remember, the time that you were quietly wishing for cooler weather. Oh summer, why have you forsaken me. 

 

Ah. I'll just have to replay the winter memories while trying to tolerate the weather here in this wretched tropical paradise....... One last thing............  

 

                               To You and Yours