In today’s edition of Sometimes It’s No Fun To Be An Adult, I rarely get snow days.
And if I do, well . . . let’s just say that something really, really icy has happened. Like the Snowpocalypse of 2010, say — the only time I can ever recall my newspaper closing. We were permitted to leave an hour early two weeks ago when a storm came rumbling in, but we’d already sent everything to press for the day and were basically chillin’.
Literally.
But oh, friends, I remember the glorious deliciousness that was the snow day as a kid. My sister/partner-in-crime was often awake before me, and I could tell by the way she was rumbling around and talking with my dad whether or not schools were closed.
Even without the Sister Barometer, though, I had the most scientific of all methods for determining whether we would be home for the day: observing how the light was slanting through the blinds in my bedroom. If the normally-dark pink was noticeably brighter — back-lit, say, though I didn’t know that word — it was probably safe to go back to sleep. Seeing that bright light meant we’d been blanketed with the fluffy stuff, and schools in Maryland don’t generally play around with that.
Once we finished helping Dad shovel out, we’d all pile inside to shed wet boots and jackets and wait (im)patiently for hot chocolate. If we were fortunate enough to get “snowball snow,” we’d fling ourselves around the yard for a while trying to create Mr. Snowman and, perhaps, his lovely (and shorter) wife. Mom would produce lollipops for his eyes and mouth, and we’d dig around for an old scarf to keep him “warm.”
Those were some happy, freewheelin’ snow days.
Even if apartment living means no outdoor space to build a snowman (and c’mon, I probably wouldn’t be out there, anyway), it’s nice to take in the scenery from our elevated view in winter. With all the slush, there’s been plenty to see right from our windows — you know, where it’s warm and quiet. Like this couple who were . . . drawing something? Signalling someone? Horsing around?
For me, the new snow day means reading inside with “Judge Judy” in the background, editing photos, sneaking pieces of chocolate from our stash. Baking cupcakes. Cleaning. We’ve had a few self-imposed “snow days” when the weather was dreary on a weekend — when we stayed in all day to get caught up on everything and nothing.
Before our wedding, Spencer and I used to talk about how cozy it would be to eventually snuggle up with blankets as the snow drifted down outside our own home — neither of us needing or wanting to be anywhere else.
That feeling hasn’t worn thin just yet.
And now I make hot chocolate for two.
write meg! 
Where I live we’ve had lots and lots of snow this year. We have 4-5 feet of snow on the ground right now and the shoveled snow piles in the city areas sometimes get carried out in semi trucks because there is so much snow. I work for a company that has given us only one half of a snow day. My kids, however, have had so many snow days this year their last day of school may be extended to July.
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I know it irritates those with ten feet of snow on their house, but I have fantasies about being snowed in. The best I can hope for down here is being rained in, but then I just go crazy being cooped up. But a snow day? With a book and hot chocolate? Yes! Just a day or two of that please.
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I am so glad we rarely get snow but my sister-in-law says she can’t imagine living somewhere that doesn’t get it. I’ve finally figured out why she likes the snow – she loves snow days!
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Awwww me and Mr. Whimsy still love our cuddle time too.
Great post.
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Your post recalled a great song, Snowed In with You by Over the Rhine. Mmm …
We haven’t had enough snow or ice to get a snow day here this year yet.
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I am sick of snow! We rarely get snow days from work. Sometimes a couple of the people I work with stay home but I can just walk up the hill if our roads aren’t clear. Yesterday, I walked to work while my daughter and husband stayed home and watched movies.
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You are so lucky you get snow days! That sounds like the most fun ever. Here in California we don’t get those, but 1 time there was a rain storm so bad that a tree fell on the power lines and the school didn’t have power for 2 days, so school was cancelled! My secret dream is to go on vacation to a cabin, and get snowed in so bad we couldn’t drive away if we wanted to. We’d just have to snuggle inside and eat soup.
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Your post makes even a California girl (formerly Chicago girl though) wish for snow. 🙂 I can almost taste that hot chocolate…
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Sounds blissful! Alas the snow has never really been bad enough here in London for a snow day (although things do tend to stop working in the tiniest amount of snow!) but we’re in the middle of a tube strike at the moment and I was allowed to work from home because I couldn’t travel in! Not quite so cosy unfortunately but the sentiment is similar 🙂
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I like snow to a point. I don’t like shovelling or driving in it, though… I actually should be shovelling us out right now, but I have the excuse of making food…
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Oh, I know what you mean about that light in the sky when it snows! I still look for it today. I love staying indoors and cuddling but I do miss playing in the snow. That’s something I’m very much looking forward to when the little one gets older and wants to play in the fluffy stuff.
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We had a brutal snowstorm in New York yesterday. Lots of places closed early. We very rarely got snow days here while I was in school. Our school district was/is notorious for being very strict about them. Bummer!
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I’m a homebody in so many ways. I love being alone in my house, usually no TV and maybe a little music and a book. I listen to audio as I cook or clean, or settle into my comfy chair. Your snow day sounds heavenly!
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it’s a new snow day coming Wednesday afternoon
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