Intermittent gusts of wind pick up the sparkling material and carry it in amorphous shapes over the pristine surface, ghosts rising and frolicking briefly in morning sun.
🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲 🌲
The storm worked hard yesterday to leave a deep covering inland, unlike our coastal Massachusetts towns where high tides devastated sea walls, roads, and basements, endangering many.
The roads in my town were plowed during the night. Since early morning, snow blowers churning in the distance join in a familiar chorus of recovery by suburban civilization.
I bought a pair of snowshoes last year. I tell my friends, “If you can walk, you can snowshoe.” I’m not a ghost, but I delight in the sensation of lifting and moving lightly over the freshly fallen snow.
❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄
I’ve lived in New England since 1968, first on Beacon Hill, paying my $62.50 share of the rent for a full floor of a townhouse, one block from the Charles River. Boston welcomed me with ten consecutive days of zero degree weather, testing my decision to move here and my resolve to stay.
Ten years later, during the Blizzard of ‘78, the image of Governor Dukakis on the television screen, guiding and reassuring us throughout the week in his grey Shetland wool sweater, reaffirmed my respect for the perseverance inherent in the New England character.
I admit that my favorite winter activity is coming in from the cold. The moment I return home and switch on the light in the front hallway, a feeling of safety wells up like a hot-spring within me.
Maybe my stepson Ari has already lit the fire, but if not, I arrange the kindling under the logs, a necessary skill I acquired for this harsh season.
The burning wood crackles cheerfully, then the dying embers remind me it’s time to end the day. Warmth and light, two of the many blessings in my life.
Today, in the aftermath of nature’s forceful statement that she rules — and always will — I’ll meet my friends David and Jill at The Teahouse for hot chocolate and conversation, with a serving of warmth and light on the side.
Awesome descriptive writing. Glad you were able to “weather the storm”!
Hi Judy, my loyal reader, thanks!
Nice description of the storm and what it leaves behind. It’s cozy to have a warm home with a fire in this weather.
Yes it is. Tonight it’s five degrees F. in New England, and you can be sure the embers are glowing!
I saw blizzard of ’78 and thought you’d be telling us about buying the house on Pond Street (momentus in its own way as was your arrival in Boston). Maybe that story is forthcoming, and I like this one just fine 🙂
Thank you sweetheart, and see my text for ambitious writing plans relating to houses in our life.
As I weather this storm , and read your account of it, my mind me- anders back to England, back to the regal pine trees of ( The quantocks )
The Quantocks being an impressive area of trees , hills, and beautiful scenery, close to where I lived.
Cothelstone is the exact area of these beautiful pine trees. It is never really that cold there. There is 7 of them. The locals call them the 7 sisters. Being in an elevated position the light is at its best.
My Brother and Sister lie here!!
Kathy
T
Hi Kathy, thank you for your lovely description of the area in England which means so much to you. I enjoy your comments with that touch of England always embedded. Take good care, Barrie
It was lovely to see you today as you re-entered the world. It was my first venture out too. Grateful for the sunlight. Another lovely piece!
Hi Randi, and thank you for your kind words today. It is nice to know that my writing resonates with you. It has been four full years since nightmare days and endless nights. I will never forget how you were part of the guardian angel team that was there for us…thank you, Barrie
So evocative. Love the description of returning to warmth and light.
Lovely, Barrie! Thank you, your writing is beautiful.
Hi Kali, and it was a pleasure to meet you. Stay warm as toast!
Great writing Barrie and I love your idea that the best thing about winter is coming inside from the cold.
We’re just coming out of our hardest winter in a few years, here in the UK, and I couldn’t agree with you more.
Hi Nick, and thank you for finding my blog all the way from England. I tried to figure out how you found me — when I learned that you are a party wall surveyor, I figured that the term “survey” was the connection. Let me know if I’m right! All the best, Barrie