Snow days

There was a winter storm warning for most of Tuesday, till early morning on Wednesday. I took the bus to school on Tuesday, and was very glad I did. The roads were layered with slush and ice. I'd left early, but my timing was off, and the bus was at the junction, ready to turn towards the bus-stop, and I still had a ways to go. I started running and the bus driver caught sight of me. Instead of ignoring me (which I've experienced before), he waved me over, indicating that he'd wait for me and let me get on at the junction. I thanked him profusely, and he said, "Today's a crazy day." Indeed it was. I spent the whole morning and afternoon in school so I wouldn't have to take the bus twice (I had one morning class and a three-hour evening workshop). I had barley soup and a bagel for lunch (a very hearty meal) and then battled the roads and snowbanks to reach the computing site. I was very grateful for my Saloman hiking boots (Goretex is the best!), which Lin Kiat had brought over for me, because my toes never once felt the cold. They also have great traction on snow.

I rode the bus again this morning. The skies shone out blue and bright with winter sunshine. The undulating snowscapes and pine trees with their snow-laden tips actually made me smile. I could see the beauty in winter still. I walked towards the bus-stop with an unexpected joy enveloping my spirit.

In the afternoon, I had to get some groceries, which meant unearthing (or un-snowing) my car. There were four inches of snow on the roof and hood. Below, a thick layer of ice had formed over the windows. I spent twenty minutes in the car park warming up the car, scraping at the windows, trying hard to break the ice layer and sweeping the snow off the car. The one consolation was the blue sky and my realization that the days are no longer ending at five p.m. The light hadn't faded, it was going to stay a little longer, and I was heartened by such a small thing.