Digging Out

Today was a red-letter day.

I took the garbage out wearing my black flats.

This is an accomplishment, you see, because today was the first day I wore something other than thick winter boots on my feet. And why the winter boots, you say?

Because of the snow. Lots and lots and lots of snow.

Now, you have to understand that here in the Pacific Northwest, we're lucky if we get one or two snowfalls per winter, which tend to stick around for a day or two before the thaw sets in. This year, however, we had snow on six of the seven days prior to Christmas, including one day when it snowed for nine hours straight.

Let me tell you, it messed everything up. We northwesterners aren't accustomed to snow that, you know, lasts. We don't have experience driving on it, shoveling it, or (heavens!) looking at it for days at a time. There were benefits, of course. Lots of family time -- we took long walks through town enjoying the Christmas lights, held incredibly long snowball fights, and helped the kids make snow forts and find the best icicles for Harry Potter-style wands. And having a truly white Christmas was something we rarely experience.

On the other hand, I haven't driven in over a week and a half, finishing the Christmas shopping was an exercise in futility (one nephew still doesn't have a gift), and holiday plans were shifted, postponed, and even scrapped altogether.

So, though it's a little sad to see the lovely white snow melt away, I'm not disappointed to have life get back to normal again.

How is your post-holiday season treating you?