Practically Perfect in Every Way

It's 11:05 (and will be much later by the time I finish), and I have to get up at 6, but I just got done praying and realized how much I am grateful for this weekend.  It's been some time since I posted, and by golly, it's time I checked in!  Let me tell you about my pretty perfect weekend.

This was the weekend of the big storm.  Most people ran to the store and bought every possible supply, hunkered down in their homes, and waited, grim-faced, for the storm to hit.  I also waited anxiously, but I was excited.  I keep learning new things about myself, and one of the things I am learning is that I am thoroughly exhilarated by the power of nature.  I love to experience it full-force (from the safety of my warm home, I add with a sheepish smile).  I want to feel the forceful gusts, see the pelting snow or rain.  I suppose that's why I took Dovie out during Hurricane Sandy, and why we made a similar trek early Saturday morning.  I was truly thrilled.

At first the storm seemed likely to disappoint - as have most of the storms I've experienced here.  The winds were only semi-boisterous, and the flakes were small, even though they were steady.  But during the night things improved (or worsened, depending on your perspective) and by morning, we had some good, deep, powdery snow.

I ventured out with Dovie, but I was one of very few.  Like I said, most hunkered down and waited it out.  But when the storm was over, people emerged.  And this is where the real magic of the weekend began.  We were like little squirrels coming out after a long winter, surveying the world again.  We had survived nature's blast, and were anxious to begin life again.  And we were all out together!  The storm forced us out together, to be neighborly, help each other shovel (boy, did I shovel!), check in on each other, and for me, get to know my neighbors' names.  Yes, I'm ashamed to admit, other than my landlord and their family, I didn't know any of my neighbors' names.  But this kind of event forces our lives to stop.  No one was even allowed to drive (not that anyone could!  My car was entirely buried - I'll post pictures when I figure out how to download them from my phone - as were everyone's who doesn't have a garage, and the shoveling took hours), so no hiding in the cars and then darting to your house without even a friendly word was not an option.  Mother nature forced us to get out of the holes of our lives and be friends.

And she forced us to stop for a day or two and play.  An unexpected, universal vacation.  At home.  It was really remarkable!  My friend in Cambridge went cross-country skiing down Mass Ave (the biggest and longest street in Boston - it was Carri, Christy Spencer).  Another friend made a snowman with the neighbors.  I met with all the dog people around here and we had a dog party at the park.  Dovie was in heaven - bounding through the snow like a porpoise in water.

And then church was cancelled - the parking ban in Cambridge remains in effect - and even when it is lifted, good luck!  People spent an hour or more digging out a parking spot, and they mark it with chairs, cones - anything - and woe be to the person who takes that spot!  Don't know what we'll do if it doesn't melt!  But Arlington ward did hold Sacrament Meeting, so I made my way up there, and then hustled home to go snow shoeing with my friend Joe.  Again, there were all kinds of people, out sledding (I had to keep Dovie away from the sledding hill - he still chases intensely anything that moves), walking their dogs, etc.  We trudged happily through the woods and chatted.  When do I ever get to do that?

So, with much of my studying caught up, sore but happy muscles, and a tuckered out dog, I am really pleased with this little gift in disguise provided by Mother Nature.  And did I mention that Tyson got his mission call to Eugene, Oregon?  Really, I must say, it has been a pretty perfect weekend.