School closing texts and calls began to pour in around 5:30 a.m. I watch the news' closings list for four separate school districts: the two that our children attend and the two where I teach. Sometimes I watch to see if the school district near my job closes. This may or may not mean that work has decided to tell employees to stay home for safety reasons.
Not so on Monday, even though it was one of several days this week with wind chills in the range of -20 to -50 degrees! For this reason I had to use my own "time."
The two oldest boys and I shoveled the driveway by hand as it had filled in with blowing snow. It took until 9 a.m. We carried water back to the animals and then I forced myself to sit down and study Accounting.
A still, small voice whispered that I should spend this "quality time" with the children. We did enjoy playing games and baking.
The rest of the week, however, has been difficult. It was important that the high schoolers made it to town to take their Regents, despite closings. Instead of using up all of my vacation time, I battled treacherous driving conditions and the deep freeze to get to and from work. Mr. WestBerryDad did the same. His presence at work, much more than mine, is critical to projects there.
Some schools opened while others closed. Rehearsals were canceled and rescheduled. Busses arrived and didn't.
Dentist appointments, National Lutheran School Week, choir rehearsals, play dates...all of the elements of our busy lives were potentially postponed or re-routed this week.
I worried. I worried about teens driving to youth group, driving to their friend's houses, driving to fetch me from work. I worried about matching gloves and ripped out, worn out boots. Were the boys' noses, fingers and toes protected from the elements? Was the sheep dog, living in the barn, OK? Would everyone remember to bring the old dog and the cat inside?
Still, we haven't suffered the way Atlanta did, with people sleeping in mall stores and vehicles abandoned alongside the highways. We don't have to buy propane to heat our home, the price of which continues to climb steadily based on a shortened supply.
Today I'm driving a stranger's Chevy SUV. She owns horses and I am overwhelmed by the smell of pine shavings that are spilled in the back section. My own vehicle sits at a recording studio several hours down The Thruway.
We're supposed to see a short break from the deep freeze. A much needed break.
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