While the fun of snow has waned considerably I will admit that the early days of the snowfall brought much joy. I am a terrible driver in the snow and somewhat afraid of Mother Nature's control over me so my car stays parked and I walk anywhere I need to go. Walking trips included two to three a day with the dogs while they jumped from one pile of snow to another like a puppy who has not yet figured out the economy of motion and instead hops in the air like a bucking bronco. Watching them move around in the snow was a heart filling sight.
With the snow, few cars and few other foot travelers, I left them to run off leash. We go to the dog park every day (that we are not snowed in) so this was a good chance to give them their dog-park experience closer to home.
Mauro (Batman) emailed me a video of him skating on his super-short skis the first day of the snow. It occurred to me that I actually owned some skate skis and that I too could get out and ski, and ski I did....For two glorious days I headed out in my four-previous-years of unused-skis. While I did not initially remember much that I had learned on our Skate-Ski Journey to Leavenworth with several skate school students, after an hour or say I felt pretty comfortable and then I had fun. I skate skied around the neighborhood and met lots of new neighbors, said hello to my close neighbors I haven't seen for a while and looked at how wonderful all the homes looked with the white snow blanketing them like a quilt on a cold night.
I loved the cross-training chance to use muscles I don't normally use and the endorphin release that happens from good old fun body movement. There were moments when I went downhill pretty fast and on the thin skis and my feeling that my balance wasn't quite predictable, when I was a bit afraid. What is better than movement in a new way, the feeling that every once in a while you are doing it right, endorphins that make your smile so big you feel it could melt the snow and a little fear to make you feel warrior like? Hmmm THAT was a joyful moment.
I walked to the library to return some books and get some new ones (and videos/DVDs) and then over to PCC. The Essential Baking Company coffee cake I ate while in a very long line made the time go by almost too fast. It was fun to see all the neighbors, most of them walking, bundled up and easily wishing everyone Happy Holidays when at other times they would walk through focused only on finding the food on their list. Although a few people were harried, smiles and kind words out muscled any stress which tried to shuffle for position. I ran into Justin, one of my neighbors who was out walking his dog Ziggy. We talked about Cinnamon Rolls and although I'm not sure how they came up, it became and afternoon project. The next day found me out walking the dogs early and I ran into Justin's wife Lindsay and handed her two cinnamon rolls for her. It's been a while since I did some baking for my neighbors. I should have given them the whole pan because I didn't really need them all. Really, I didn't.
On the Monday before Christmas I finally had to venture out. Two hours walking/taking a bus found me at my Dad's condo in Belltown. Dad's condo sold and my brother Walter and I moved it into the UHaul Walt brought from Bainbridge Island where he lives. I had such a good time with Walt, maybe because we would finally be finished moving Dad's stuff but more likely it was the holidays and Walt and I were together. We finished and I sent him home with two cinnamon rolls. Two less for me to eat, hooray. I did get into a car on Christmas Eve. My sister-in-law Kirsten's brother Kris picked me up and we went to Kirstens for an annual dinner. Family, really good food, conversation and simply love. WOW.
I am running out of food and so a walk to the store is in order. I thought about going today but the rain/snow mix and ice/slushy paths didn't really appeal to me. Having run out of cinnamon rolls I made a cinnamon coffee cake today. I should probably drop by my neighbors and get rid of the other 13 pieces.
Admittedly the snow isn't as much fun anymore but it doesn't take away the absolute elation I felt at playing in the snow. It created a situation for me to slow down and do stuff around the house I both needed to do and other that I got to do. I'm moving really slow at getting my work done, and I've watched way too many movies but I've had a lot of nice time off, spent time in just the way we always promise we will resolve to do. The snow brought great benefit, joy and well, delicious cinnamon rolls. I hope you stayed safe, sane and found good even when it was tiresome. Later, skaters, Trish
