... a decade makes!

A decade ago, we were still settling in to our house in Raleigh, having happily sold our "starter home" in Ft. Lauderdale in 7 days (now THOSE were the days!) As we prepared to move, we warned our children, then 4 and 6, that just because we were moving NORTH did not mean that they would be playing in the snow all winter. As a matter of fact, we should only expect (on average) about an inch of snow per year. A decade ago, my husband was on one of a never-ending stream of business trips that left me, new in town, with two small children…and a dog. A decade ago, we awoke to find 18 inches of snow had been dumped on Raleigh. Oh, did I mention that this particular trip of my husband's was to South Florida? Yes…and he thought it was amusing to call each day that we were snowed under to say things like, "Gosh, it was a little chilly on the golf course today. I had to put on a sweater!"

My college sorority sisters, with whom I have reconnected during this year's snow event, are looking at one another quizzically (can you look at one another on FaceBook?) You see, in the frozen tundra of St. Lawrence University, 18 inches of snow would be an indication that the Spring Thaw was almost complete. Girls would be laid out in the courtyard of our dorm (AKA Dean Eaton Beach), wearing bikini tops and starting their base tans for the de rigeur Spring Break in Ft. Lauderdale. And we only got 5-6 inches this time, I think. So I have lived across the gamut of weather zones in my 40-something years.

A decade ago, we lived at the end of a cul-de-sac, to which none of the three or four pieces of snow removal equipment in the county would reach. I did not have a car capable of making the trek out of our neighborhood to Food Lion. Fortunately, as neighbors do in times of weather strife, we all banded together and those with 4-wheel drive vehicles took our money and our lists:

Wine

Marshmallows

Hershey Bars

Don't forget the wine

Graham Crackers

Kraft Mac & Cheese

Hot Dogs 

Oh, yeah…a couple gallons of milk

Did I mention wine?

…and did the Food Lion run for us. A decade ago, my kids had the never-ending energy of 4 and 6 year olds, ready to hit the snow running first thing in the morning and play until dark, which, thank goodness, came at about 4:30. Moms and Dads stood around, watching the endless sledding and shouting safety instructions to little wool-covered heads that were impervious to any advice that didn't involve making them go faster and steeper. Red-flushed faces and sweat-soaked hair emerged from the trail of dripping winter boots, coats, hats and scarves, hungry for gourmet dinners of Kraft Mac & Cheese and hot dogs. They fell blissfully asleep early while visions of faster, steeper sledding challenges danced in their heads.

Now, here we are. Same kids…only 14 and 16. Dad in town this time! Those innocent times of a decade ago are irretrievably lost in a whirlwind of technology. Is school closed? You can find out on the phone, the internet, FaceBook or by text. Who is sledding where? It's not just a matter of walking out the front door and seeing who is around. Complicated plans are made using all these technological resources. Should we walk? Get a ride? Drive the golf cart? So many choices!

A decade later, the boundless energy that mobilized the sledding multitudes in our old neighborhood has trickled down to the next generation. I know because I see the little kids in my neighborhood. Tears fill my eyes as I look at their red-flushed faces. I restrain myself from inviting them for a dinner of Kraft Mac & Cheese and hot dogs. Teenagers have about as much patience with snow, ice and cold as I have with Guitar Hero. But my prescient purchase at Aldi's of 3 gallons of milk and lots of hot chocolate, has proven to be just perfect for teens. Teenagers have amazing resourcefulness when it comes to getting where they want to go. Not willing to yield to the constraints of their cul-de-sacs, they get rides and even (egad!) WALK to join friends.

At our house, games of Dominos ensue. Various teens go in and out of the several entrances to the house. I find myself utterly nonplussed that the trails of snow, in various stages of melting, doesn't bother me a bit. I beat my husband 8 GAMES IN A ROW at Backgammon…reminding him never again to play with the Queen of Doubles. A jigsaw puzzle (thanks Patti & Mike) slowly comes together on the coffee table. If you want something to take your mind off the certain days off from school and their potential impact on Spring Break, try playing Apples to Apples with five teenagers! Sleepovers manage to happen despite the treacherous roads. My husband finished a 600 page book! The blanket I am knitting actually grew a few inches. And yesterday, seriously, you might want to sit down…I actually saw two girls, heads together, DOING HOMEWORK! I knew you wouldn't believe me, so I took a picture! 

Haley Rae and Ana Mari taking time off from the winter activities to, seriously, study STATISTICS. (Ana Mari's Dad, a statistician by trade, is going to be so thrilled when he sees this!)

Some serious talks about SATs and colleges and extracurricular activities took place. A plethora of "Big Games" provided background on the TV. What a difference a decade makes…and I don't even want to think about me and Hurley, a decade from now, in the same situation. And Rory, you can breathe a sigh of relief now…I am NOT going to tell the 2500-piece jigsaw puzzle story from January 2000!

When you are done reading this (and leaving a comment, of course), go back to the home page and take the poll. As of 7:09 a.m. Wednesday morning ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of responders are totally OVER the snow and ready to get the kids BACK TO SCHOOL!!! 

P.S. I've resurrected my blog with a new twist...I would like to focus more on my ongoing struggle with this chronic illness of depression. I know there are others out there like me who might like to share their experiences. And I'm thinking if I write in it when I'm feeling great, I can look up from the abyss and see that there really is hope!

http://www.liveandletdi.com/