JIM’S WIFE
I loved our snow daze. It was a new experience to be off work for an entire week. I did make myself get up every day as if I was going to work so that I could do things that I have been putting off at home. I also ate really well, read books, and took naps.
Before the snow, I knew that I was beginning to hit the proverbial wall. I had been going strong every day for a very long time without many breaks and I really needed a minute to catch up. I’m certain we have all been there. You just need the world to stop spinning a minute. Like everyone, I have had ups and downs over the past year and I really needed time to quit reacting and just breathe. So, because of this, I am very grateful for this gift of time. I understand it was very hard for many who lost water, had damage, no electricity and I apologize that I enjoyed myself and I really, really enjoyed my space to think, breathe and reflect.
Jim and I had exactly six days together with no breaks. And it was not too bad!
We watched the birds and had a great time feeding them Ritz crackers. I was going to feed them rice but then I read that you were not supposed to do that. I did not have any oats and I couldn’t think of anything else to feed them but they seemed to enjoy Ritz. Jim was worried about the salt content. He was convinced I was going to make them blow up. But we did not see any birds combust and they kept coming back and bringing friends and then those friends would bring friends so I think they liked what we had.
There is definitely a hierarchy of the birds. The bigger birds would run off the little birds and then even bigger birds would come run those off. Jim was very concerned that the little birds get enough so he would yell out and make the big birds fly off for a while to give the little ones a chance. No one got to eat if the Cardinal was in the yard.
I was scared we were going to have a re-creation of the Hitchcock movie “Birds” if the ice did not melt soon. Those birds are demanding creatures!
We also searched the pantry for stuff to make snow ice cream. Thankfully I did not have what we needed and I am relieved. An old wives tale I had heard was that you never catch the first bowl of snow and I was not feeling too good about catching the second one either! If any of you made ice cream.... ok, eww.
Another old wives tale is that if the snow stays on the ground for more than three days then you will have another snow in the next ten days. Excited to see if this is true!
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE February 26 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.