Ice + Snow = COLD!!!

Snow is a rarity here in the Great Northwest. So rare that I can count on one hand how many times it has snowed int he past 4 years. Four years ago we had a decent amount of snow - a couple inches a couple times during the course of the winter. Three years it was a smattering. Two years we had one really good snowfall that amounted to maybe two inches. Last year, it was a smattering.

When I say "smattering" what I really mean is snow flakes fell from the sky for a small time but besides lightly covering the grass, it amounted to nothing.

This year we were hoping for snow. Really, really hoping for snow. And guess what? We got it. I have about 12 inches in my yard right now. They have called an end to "the weekend storm" but predict another storm to come through on Wednesday leaving 1-6 inches more. Then we should warm up to above freezing because, oh yes, we've been far below freezing. Right now we're sitting at 25 degrees which I'm sure sounds not all that bad to anyone *not* from here but seriously? This is cold for us. We just don't get this cold. Maybe once a year for a few days we dip down into the lows 20's, maybe into the teens, but we don't stay there for very long.

We've been this cold for longer than I remember in recent years.

I'm not complaining. Not really. I love snow and I think it's great we have it to play in. I'm bummed that it's the week of Christmas but not for me. I'm sad for people who are stuck at the airport or stranded on closed highways. I'm sad for friends who had plans to be somewhere else for Christmas and are now stuck here. I know someone who did all their shopping and had it shipped to her mom's house only now....she can't get out. It's sad and I feel bad for all of them.

My Christmas planned aren't affected so much. We will still have Christmas morning here at home. Sure, we might not be able to get together with the extended family for Christmas dinner but for us, it's not hard to reschedule that event as everyone lives pretty close to each other.

We are scheduled to leave town a couple days after Christmas to visit my side of the family and we might have to postpone that but even that isn't the end of the world for us. Inconvenient, yes but completely doable if it needs to be. So all in all, we're lucky. We're home, safe and warm. We have all the kids gifts wrapped and ready. Santa will come as planned. It's all good.

I cannot remember a year in my lifetime when it was a "White Christmas" (though photos say it was the year I was born). I'm actually excited by the prospect.

But there is a part of me that feels guilty for loving the snow so much when I know people are hurting because of it. *sigh*