Thursday, January 7, 2010

What Will Today Bring?

What will today bring? Probably a quiet day of waiting for our 'big' snow storm.

My computer is in front of a window looking into our backyard. A couple of bird feeders are just outside. Harry refilled them for me this morning and the birds are having a feast. It's snowing - at least what Alabama calls snow. The world is peaceful, quiet, and COLD. Kitty is sleeping on my desk. I haven't dressed today and may not. The generator is ready to take over if we have a power failure. There's food in the pantry. My car has a brand new battery and both cars have plenty of gas. We're set for this version of an Alabama blizzard.

I spent 10 years in the mountains and, believe me, I've seen some blizzards. This ain't no blizzard even though some folks think it is. The Midwest is having a blizzard! Try that on for size. Not a lot of fun. It simply spells isolation and stress.

Last night I was thinking about the day I moved from the mountains (that I loved) to Alabama. I was already depressed before I arrived in my new hometown. The boys and I were driving south on "the parkway" in a Chevelle with no air conditioning. (I have to add here that we didn't need air conditioning in the area we were leaving.) I read the temp on a bank thermometer. . . it told me how much trouble I was in. It was 106 degrees 11:30 AM!!! The boys and I were miserable. Their father had already been here for 6 months and had bought a house - a house he chose. He hadn't moved into the house. He decided to let us get here and move into the house before he gave up his apartment. In addition to everything else there were insects here that I'd never seen and lots of them! Spiders were in the corners of the porch and in the storage room. There was a yellow jacket bee nest beside the carport. I thought that I'd arrived in hell.

Why did this come to mind last night? One of the Neighbors brought lunch for us and the moving men. (We were in a wonderful neighborhood with really friendly, helpful people.) One of my comments was that I'd never seen so many bugs and didn't know if any of them was dangerous. The neighbor, Reeva, told me that the bugs were just a nuisance and that a cold winter would reduce the population. I was thinking of that conversation last night. Next summer should be almost bug free.

I think that I'm beginning to ramble on and on like an old woman. It's OK because that's what I am and I wear that badge with pride.

Keep warm and try to not let our frozen worlds get the best of us.

As an after thought. The picture in my header is a single snowflake on Harry's car. Of course he shot the pic - I can't operate the fancy camera.

6 comments:

Jamie said...

I love that pic - why is it I can never find the perfect shot like that?

I know how the cold is...and whether it's here or there...it just plain sucks. I imagine your area isn't too used to this kind of weather, so the locals ramble on about the dangers...compared to here, where we are supposedly used to this sort of thing...but still, it bites. I am so tired of winter already, and really - there is so much more to come!

I like reading your ramblings, btw. My mind works the way yours does apparently, so I must be old too.

Have a great weekend Mary. Hugs. :)

Golden To Silver Val said...

Funny how as we get older we have these little memory reels that go off in our heads. I liken them to the old black and white newsreels that used to precede a movie at the theater. I do know one thing for sure...I know that I can't stand the cold like I used to and it makes it so much clearer why so many retirees move south. Not supposed to get snow in the south....but I guess it doesn't last as long and that's something to be grateful for. I remember one year we had to make a trip to Arkansas for my mother-in-law's funeral. I believe it was Christmas of 1963. There was a snowstorm that year ("first one in 21 years" they all said) and because there were no salt trucks or anything close, the town rolled up its sidewalks and simply CLOSED. Everything was closed. Some farmers tried to use their tractors to get people out of ditches and yes there were injuries. But I guess now 'the south' has gotten used to getting snow, even if it doesn't last long. You're warm and cozy and have great entertainment (the birds)...so just enjoy. Have the boys thought any more about their story? (it was a dark and stormy night). LOL

SOUL said...

you showed up at my place at the same time i was addin a tid bit of info in my comment box-- ya just missed me.
so iffin ya want a quick update-- go back :))

anyhow-- i know whatchya mean about the unidentifiable southern bugs. sometimes you can hear them things comin. yuck!
last night soulkid was tellin me about an encounter with a cicada -- she had no clue what it was-- only that it chased her around the back yard-- sushi finally caught it and ate it :))
eeewwwweee.

anyhow-- speakin of bugs-- for some reason-- here, in the cold --COLD weather we get infested with ANTS. i do not know why. i guess i should be grateful it isn't something worse-- i am actually-- but man they are hard to get rid of-- and they are every-where. it's driving me insane!
do y'all have that problem?
ants? why? they aren't after anything-- they're in closets even. WTHeck?

anyways-- stay warm..
what kinda birds? humminbirds are my favorite
happy friday-
hugs LBF

(geesh - talk about rambling-- sorry)

Cheryl said...

I was thinking the picture was of a starfish from your reef tank. How cool to take a picture of a single snowflake!

You think you ramble, but we don't. I always enjoy your writing. I loved your description of the last decade. I hope the next one is filled with love, family and health. And fun!

Anonymous said...

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Brad said...

Hello Dear Lady!

I hope you and your are all toasty and warm. I'm hoping the roads aren't to icy and some good child has brought the grandsons to come entertain you. It seems we had our winter back in Nov. It's been in the 50's here and quite pleasant.