The reality of snow

Me trying to keep a cheerful pose despite the freezing cold. 

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

My first snow storm in US after four years here in my adoptive country and I had mixed feelings.

At first like any other child or adult I was excited to see the snow.  Last year snow wasn't enough. I mean the snow was just enough for me to do some picture taking; in 2012 I haven't seen snow. And last year wasn't much to cover the road. 

The past few days have produced some major snow. The first day of snow was quite exciting; I was like any child seeing it as magical ice flakes falling from the  heavens. The angels must be playing soap suds from above.

The child in me thought that angels or fairies couldn't contain anymore the soap suds. They looked so white and flawless. 

After a day of looking at the snow I say, in real life, snow was not nearly as delightful as it appeared in movies and on TV. What I thought now differed from what I looked at then, a great window view from the comfort of home.

For one who came from a faraway place where snow is just pictured in greeting cards and books, nearly nothing and no one prevented me from going out to see and touch the snow for myself.

Wearing five layers of clothing to cover my ears and neck and winter shoes to keep me warm, I went out with a cell phone on my breast pocket as Ronnie reminded me to keep close in case of an accident.

Advisories
By the way I learned from my Nanay (mother) and Lola (grandmother) to always cover my ears, feet and head when it is cold because it's where the cold air would usually enter. 

Before I wondered how come there was no hole in my head. What a thought. Of course that changed when I studied biology.

I re-traced the steps taken by a person ahead of me and I slowly navigated my way among the cars towards the main street of Ruffner drive where I lived here at Cornelius, North Carolina. 

The snow was above my knee already. The fresh snow on top of the old snow made it high, I can tell. The air was chilly but I inhaled just to let the cool air engulf my insides.

There were a few persons I saw in the sea of white, a couple who were taking pictures and kids making a snowman. The place was quiet and melancholy. We don’t have this in the Philippines.

But I worry for the birds and squirrel that I passed by every time I walk. I saw one small bird over the chrysanthemum trees hopping from one branch to another, hoping it finds some warmth. 

I pity the dog owners because they have to bring the dogs for a walk. The past days storm warnings and advisories were issued by public officials through the various media outlets. 

Historic
In fact I heard that Gov. Pat Mcrory declared a state of emergency over the Carolinas. I heard also in South Carolina that the state governor issued the same warning.

Radio and TV stations blared updates on the snowstorm and reminded everyone to stay out of the roads as snow turned them into ice. It's too dangerous to commute as the volume of snow got heavier and the ice has thickened considerably.

My hubby Ronnie said this month's snow fall is historic; he couldn't remember the last time there was a snowstorm in the Carolinas He said I should Google it but I answered no.

If he didn't remember the last snow storm that hit the Carolinas, then it must have been a really long time ago. Last update I learned that traffic had ground to a halt. 

No school I think not only today but for several days. Offices are close except government agencies. So no work no pay. As simple as that.

But at least almost everyone is at home and spending time with the family; I think that is the message of this snowstorm. The icy gridlock brought me here to to the computer. It's not fun anymore because I wanted to take a walk.

Growing up in the Philippines had not prepared me for this kind of winter and how to bundle myself up to keep warm throughout the day.

At least there's the Internet, the laptop, books, food, movies at home and TV programs to keep me entertained, otherwise you never know what to do in this situation. 

By the way our condo is strategically situated, fronting the gazebo and the street. The snow is falling quite heavily from left to right. 

To the readers out there, do you have any tips on enjoying and keeping productive in a snowstorm? Give me a call or better yet, write a comment below.

(The blogger/author is a veteran journalist from Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao in the Philippines who works as a nanny in North Carolina. Read her blogs on susanpalmesstraightfrom the Carolinas.com. These and other articles also appear at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/author/2582/susan-palmes-dennis)