Wow, what a December!Between performing at the Smyrna Opera House, preparing for singing church choir numbers, attending several county local holiday performances, watching Matt in the school band, work parties and checking my shopping list once or twice, I was very busy this year enjoying the seasonal celebrations. It all came to a complete stop on a Saturday, December 19 at 12:13am. in Clayton, Delaware.
The day before, everyone at work kept hearing reports of the approaching snowstorm. The changing number of inches made everyone excited. That evening I drove to Newark (pronounced NewArk) Delaware to attend a wonderful Relief Society presentation of "Women at the Well" to see my best girlfriend, Dawn, sing her very first solo. She is very much like a sister to me. It was 10 pm when I got home and waited until the first snow flurry arrived before going to bed. It began and when I
awoke the next morning we had at least 6" of snow. Still snowing Saturday evening, our church Christmas party was cancelled. By the end of the storm on Sunday, early morning Smyrna/Clayton received 24" of snow. Church was cancelled and I couldn't get out my front door. I had to shove my broom stick out the 1" opening and managed to maneuver the screen door open.
My neighbors watched as they were shovelling and shouted "Hurray, Barb made it out!" My shovel was in the shed and the drift had the doors shut. The snow was just above my knees. One of neighbors managed to leave a shovel at the end of my walk. I grabbed it and furiously started to at least get a walking path started. I am so lucky that I have good men who watch out for me. They scraped my car and shoveled around it, and even snow blowed a path for me. I had minimal shovelling to do. As my toes started to tingle, they finished.
Mother Nature sure threw Delaware a curve ball. It was supposed to be the biggest shopping weekend of the year? Instead it gave me the opportunity to get much needed rest and enjoy the unfolding of a wonderful wintry scene that we don't usually get until Late Jan/Feb. The snow was both a blessing and a gift. It reminded me to stay focused on the importance of Christ's birth and Heavenly Father's love for each and every one of us.
By Monday, the main roads were clear and we were to report by 10am. However, the schools never opened and still remain closed until after the New Year. On the following Saturday, the ice and snow still piled up mostly melted as we received a day of rain.
The day before, everyone at work kept hearing reports of the approaching snowstorm. The changing number of inches made everyone excited. That evening I drove to Newark (pronounced NewArk) Delaware to attend a wonderful Relief Society presentation of "Women at the Well" to see my best girlfriend, Dawn, sing her very first solo. She is very much like a sister to me. It was 10 pm when I got home and waited until the first snow flurry arrived before going to bed. It began and when I
awoke the next morning we had at least 6" of snow. Still snowing Saturday evening, our church Christmas party was cancelled. By the end of the storm on Sunday, early morning Smyrna/Clayton received 24" of snow. Church was cancelled and I couldn't get out my front door. I had to shove my broom stick out the 1" opening and managed to maneuver the screen door open.My neighbors watched as they were shovelling and shouted "Hurray, Barb made it out!" My shovel was in the shed and the drift had the doors shut. The snow was just above my knees. One of neighbors managed to leave a shovel at the end of my walk. I grabbed it and furiously started to at least get a walking path started. I am so lucky that I have good men who watch out for me. They scraped my car and shoveled around it, and even snow blowed a path for me. I had minimal shovelling to do. As my toes started to tingle, they finished.
Mother Nature sure threw Delaware a curve ball. It was supposed to be the biggest shopping weekend of the year? Instead it gave me the opportunity to get much needed rest and enjoy the unfolding of a wonderful wintry scene that we don't usually get until Late Jan/Feb. The snow was both a blessing and a gift. It reminded me to stay focused on the importance of Christ's birth and Heavenly Father's love for each and every one of us.
By Monday, the main roads were clear and we were to report by 10am. However, the schools never opened and still remain closed until after the New Year. On the following Saturday, the ice and snow still piled up mostly melted as we received a day of rain.
This Christmas Eve, Jim opened his home to me and our friends Walter and Joanne Moore and with each other. Every year we gather and exchange gifts. It is traditional that Matt stay with his father on Christmas Eve, and he comes to my house the next day while Jim visits with his family.
Today, on this New Years Eve, Matt & I woke to a snow, sleet, rainy morning. By the afternoon, it turned to rain. Tonight Jim, Matt, & I will celebrate the New Year with a dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant in town. Jim's tradition is to spend the evening with his parents. Matt and I wait for the ball to drop in NY. We blow horns, noise makers, hug, and kiss and then make our way outside to beat the pots and pans and announce "Happy New Year!" to the neighborhood. Of course, we let our neighbors know that it is our tradition. They don't seem to mind! First Matt calls Jim. We also call my mother & sister in California.
This year I will send a text message Happy New Year to my co-worker Gerald Mood. Who, by the way is: young, wonderful, brilliant, fun, physically fit, supportive, and did I mention he was young. We work together and know some common friends because he was raised in Smyrna, too. We became such fast friends this year. He is like a brother to me. He has been such a light in my life and I am all the better for it.
I feel so blessed to have many friends that I consider my family. They surround me throughout the day bringing me laughter and love. We continue to connect by sharing our beliefs, faith, values, and life experiences with honor and respect.
May the new decade bring you more joy to your life, peace to your mind, and love to your spirit!
1 comment:
Hey, I didn't know you "lived" in the blogger world ;). I'll be following you now... lol. It's really cool to hear about your family history finds, I really need to work on mine some more, I am the only member of the church in my family, and not much is done as of yet...
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