Waiting for Snow

               Did you hear?  The weather prognosticators mentioned the S-Word in the forecast (the white stuff, of course) and we are giddy here in the Pacific Northwest, where winter is a long, green and grey slog through wet.  These occasional cold-snap breaks in the mossy weather pattern bring a welcome bright-blue-frigid sky and hopefully white stuff in which to play.  Snow days for children and sledding for hours on end come rarely around here and are celebrated by the young and young at heart.

               I feel sorry for the Snow Humbugs who feel the need to gripe and grumble about slippery roads and cold toes.  I know that many have reasons to complain – they have a long car commute or own a small business that will be dinged by the less passable roads.  But I hope they try to see the upside.  The sparkly, beautiful, crisp upside.

               Along with battening down the hatches for the frigid Nor’eastern winds that will be a-blowin’, here are some other preparations you need to make before the snow and cold arrive:

1.       Wear your favorite pajamas on each night of possible snow INSIDE-OUT!  It is imperative.  This will help our chances for a good layer of fluffy frozen pure-joy on the ground.

2.      Some say, though I haven’t tried it, to flush an ice cube down the toilet or sleep with a spoon under your pillow.  Not sure about the logic there, but whatever helps!

3.      Stock up on hot chocolate makings…duh.

4.      Hang your white shimmery lights outside to illuminate the coming freeze.

5.      AFTER you’ve witnessed the first flakes falling, play the song “Skating” (#7) from the Charlie Brown Christmas album.  The music is the sound of snow falling, believe me!

6.      DO NOT get your sleds out until the snow is beginning to whiten the landscape.  You don’t want to jinx anything.

7.      Enjoy the magic blanket EVERY MINUTE, because you know it won’t last.  Go for a walk.  Gaze at the flakes falling while you sip your coffee.  Sled and sled and sled!  Build a snow family.  Have a neighborhood potluck barbeque while you sled (those are the BEST!) and don’t miss a minute.

Some people itch for snow.  I get hives.  We Snow Maniacs are prepared and getting excited!  My family has battened down the hatches in preparation for the coming cold snap. We have set up our snowman idolatry in their proper shrines and will be sleeping with our jammies inside-out for the coming week.  Will you?