What if I told you there was a place in western civilization where internet service isn’t even an option? Where cell phone coverage is spotty at best. Where a house is heated by a wood burning stove. Where the great outdoors is the favorite toy of choice. Where only trees and sky are visible as far as the eye can see. Would you want to live there? Visit there? Or steer clear? What if I told you that place is where I grew up and my dad and bonus mom still live there? It’s true.
Tuesday we visited this place because my grandparents are in town from Florida. A wintry storm plus poor planning on my part caused us to become snowed in at my dad’s house. Not that we didn’t try to get home. We did. But impassable roads, heavy snow, road closures, fallen trees and even a little 180-spinning action in the car forced us to turn around. It had taken us over an hour to get only a few miles out. It was pretty clear that we weren’t going to make it home. So we turned around. The boys’ school had already called to say that school was cancelled for the next day.
We spent that night and the following day snowed in – part of the time without electricity. At first it seemed like such a hassle. We didn’t have pajamas, our regular toiletries or clean clothes for the next day. I hadn’t packed Mabrey extra bottles, her favorite lovie or her sound machine. But all was well. We had a roof over our heads, family, warm beds and food. And I had my camera.
Our “inconvenient” day off the grid ended up being a blessing in disguise. It was the breath of fresh air I had been needing.
Funny.
I had envisioned my getaway as a tropical retreat including sand, sun and cloudless skies. My tropical getaway came in the form of 7″ of snow.
It took me back to my childhood winters when time moved at a snail’s pace.
Snow has a way of making everything and anything look pretty.
Hills are bigger.
Snow is heavy.
But it tastes so good.
As long as it isn’t yellow.
My kids are lucky enough to have great grandparents in their lives. Great grandparents who take care of themselves and are mobile, active and energetic. Great grandparents who don’t look or act their age. Great grandparents who don’t know what “too old” or “too cold” means.
May we all get the chance to play with our great grandkids in the snow someday.
Maybe next year you can wear that fuzzy purple scarf out in the snow, babygirl.
And those ear warmers don’t go around your neck. Whatever.
Thanks winter. It’s been fun.
images: Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
family life, kid-friendly