Christmas Season in Delaware

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.

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!

Winter Snow!

It's February and I missed posting a blog for January. I blinked and now am involved in many new projects; a valentines day fundraising event at the Smyrna Opera House, high school spring musical rehearsals, a new night for choir practice, and of course cub scouts!

Matt and I were invited to join a group of my coworkers to go snow skiing two weeks ago! We got a free lesson and ski equipment rental along with the cost of only a lift ticket. It was Matt's first time, and I hadn't been skiing since I was 17 years old.

The ski resort is called Blue Mountain and located in the mountains of PA. I'm glad we took a lesson. I'd almost forgot how to safely ski! Luckily, I only fell two times (once forward using the tow lift, and secondly off the lift. The chairs sit low and my skis slide out from under me.

Matt was happy and having lots of fun on the lesson hill, until I thought we were ready to give the bunny slope a try. (Pause) I don't remember the bunny slope being so long and steep? He started off with arms and legs and a big fall. I was so intent on not falling and keeping my eyes forward, I got to the bottom because I couldn't stop! I look back and Matt managed to somehow find his skis and poles. I couldn't get to him and he was mad and frustrated. I was so out of control and feeling foolishly old - - the fresh air hit me and I couldn't stop laughing. I was happy to be alive and in the snow. We finally made it to the ski lift, promptly fell off and landed face first in the snow. We agreed we needed to review and get back to the lesson hill. I started down first hoping to help him down. He got stuck in a bank of snow.

Frustrated, tired, hungry and cold, the ski patrol put him on the back of their snow mobile. I met him at the lodge. We turned in our equipment for the day. He voiced "NEVER AGAIN" and I put my arm around him. I was so proud that he faced his fears and tried his best! It was 1:30pm and got lunch. We ate lunch and watched the snowboards and skiers as they wiped out one by one. Suddenly Matt wanted to try again. However, our group were just coming in for the day. Next year!

At 43, I was really sore for almost 3 days. I didn't know I had muscles inside my elbows. My legs are fine, except for my shins from the tight boots. After I fell the second time, I almost couldn't get my knee working after it was frozen from the fall. Matt has no bumps, bruises or discomfort. He is excited to try again next year! I didn't realize how much I miss skiing - the air, the smell of the snow, the exhilaration of the sport, but mostly the beauty of the mountains! All of my young childhood winter memories of Maine: skiing with Grammy Bigelow, in the ski mobile with Grampy Bigelow, and sledding with my sister came flooding back in one run down the bunny slope!.......and now Matt's first time on skis. I will always treasure the memories!