Time is flying this year. Here it is already March and like the old saying it came in like a lion, roaring. This past weekend we got what the weather reports were calling a Winter storm. But around here, that doesn’t mean snow.
What we got was intense winds, blowing things around and
downing some trees, or at least taking some branches off them. My daughter said
she thought the wind had blown a branch off of our tree because there was one lying
under it. Though it’s not something you’d notice on our massive tree. I wasn’t
concerned about it. It was planted nineteen years ago, and it’s supposed to
have roots that go extra deep and long. I think it’d take tornado-strength winds
to pull it out of the ground.
The power company warned us about power outages but all we
got was one short one on Saturday morning. Long enough for us to notice the
power went off, but not long enough to start worrying about issues from its
loss. I don’t think it was out for five minutes.
By Monday, things had calmed down around here. We still have
some wind, but it’s quieter. The sun’s out, we have blue skies. The weather
report predicts temperatures hitting the low 70s this week.
Monday is also the day I read headlines about the major
blizzard hitting Northern California and into Northern Nevada. Specifically,
around the Tahoe and Reno areas. They got socked in.
My son, Tony, is working in Northern Nevada so I was happy
when he called. I asked him how the weather was up there and how he was faring.
He mentioned that his bosses had shut down his job site on
Saturday because of the weather and the fact they had more snow and ice. He
didn’t mention any power outages or other issues with the weather though his
call was about him needing a ride to come to Las Vegas today. Jerry, of course,
willingly drove up to get him last night, though Tony had some warnings about
the road conditions up there.
Now, having grown up in Idaho, I’m a bit familiar with the
weather there and I knew that by March the snow is at least starting to melt, if
not mostly gone. And while there might still be snow around, the roads are
clear. But March tends to roar in like a lion so lots of wind. Prime weather for
some kite flying, as I remember.
I didn’t see Idaho’s weather reports, so I assumed they were
just seeing typical March winds and maybe some rain. Then learning about the
blizzard, I thought they may have gotten some snow from it. Though being March
already, and not seeing any headlines about them getting a storm too, I assumed
it wasn’t more than a light snow, something that could melt off in a day.
Since this was Monday, and I had plans for the evening, I
was contemplating if I’d even need a jacket and the possibility of digging my sandals
out rather than wearing my tennis shoes for the evening when Bonnie surprised
me by calling.
I very nearly panicked.
It was the middle of the workday! And unlike me, she has a
job. Plus, she never calls in the middle of the day.
So, my first response when I picked up the phone was, “What’s
wrong?”
Her first sentence
was bemoaning the fact that the snow was up to the bumper of her car, which is
an SUV! Apparently, because of the slope of her driveway and the depth of the
newly fallen snow, she couldn’t get out.
I’m thinking about the nice spring weather, and she’s snowed
in! Not only that, but her anticipated company wouldn’t be able to get to her
place because of it. (The slope of her driveway is at least half the problem.)
Talk about March coming in like a lion.
Then, after we’d hung up, I had to laugh about the
differences in our lives. From the extreme differences in our weather to the
differences in our living conditions. Her only companion is her cat while I
live with most of my kids, my husband, and some dogs.
Of course, she also had tons of friends, not to mention
family nearby, and she lives in the small town we grew up in. I live in a huge
city with no family nearby and, as usual, I don’t have as many friends.
Though we still have our similarities. Saturday, Melinda was
French braiding my hair and commented on my extreme lack of gray hair. Yes, I have
some, as does Bonnie, but at nearly 62 years old, it’s not much.
And, as of yesterday, Dictionary (as we affectionately call
her) is 63.
Smile. Make the day a brighter day.
