Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful. Maybe. But Probably Not.

Have you heard the news? We might get some snow. I know, I know. You Pittsburghians and New Englanders scoff at our excitement, at our definition of "snow." But hey, we Southerners will take what we can get.

Before I go any further, I want to show you this:


Any guesses as to what this might be? The answer will appear later in this post.

I really shouldn't get my hopes up about snow because I can probably count on one hand the times I've experienced snow in my life. At most, two hands, which is good because that's all I've got. When I was still living at home, every time the weathermen would predict snow, my mom and I would get so excited. We'd stay up super late waiting for the snow to arrive. We'd check outside periodically to see if there was something, anything, falling. We'd usually go to bed dejected and have to arise at our normal early hour and go about our day disappointed and exhausted.

But every now and then our faith would be rewarded. And then we'd don the horribly inappropriate winter weather gear we owned -- not much! -- and head out. No matter what time it was we would always go for a walk in the falling snow. When I was in elementary school we lived near a small park and we'd always head there.

I wish I'd had a camera to record the scene, but I can still see it so clearly in my mind's eye. Everything so silent, still. Large flakes falling gently, quietly collecting on the branches, on the grass. As we approached the park, the streetlights wore halos. In the park was a small creek, crossed by a short bridge. Under the shade of the trees, the light dimmed but grew brighter as it began to reflect off the gathering snow. We'd circle the park, then head home.

In the morning, we'd wake, don our soggy coats and galoshes and head out again. We didn't dare drive. Southerners get so little snow we have no experience driving in it and the really smart ones among us know that and don't even venture out. We'd walk downtown, to Bojangles, where all the old men sat drinking coffee. We'd fortify ourselves with a hearty biscuit and some coffee for my mom and ice-cold Coke for me. Then we'd head back home.

Usually, by day two the snow would be gone. And we'd be back to our daily routines. Until the next time the weatherman said snow.

Now, as for the mystery item from the top of this post. Any guesses?

THAT, my friends is a 30 year old pizza pan that lived one glorious day as a snow sled! When I was about six or seven years old we got an amazing snow. Probably one of the best in my life. But, as I mentioned before, we were sorely lacking in snow paraphernalia. So, my mom got the brilliant idea to break out the pizza pans and we spent a glorious day sledding down a hill near my house. It is a very happy memory from my childhood.

Mr. Daddy wonders why I hang onto the pan. It has survived several moves with us but the thing is completely worthless. You can't cook a single thing on it because the surface is so bent and scratched. But I keep it for the memories. And for the eternal hope of snow. One day, maybe, it will have a chance to shine again.

9 comments:

AndreAnna said...

Even in Jersey, we usually get snow, but this winter has sucked so much, we get flurries which don't even stick.

Damn global warming.

Burgh Baby said...

We've really been pretty lacking in the white stuff this year, so I can understand your excitement. I mean, I bought the Toddler snow pants and boots a month ago and she still hasn't worn them.

In college we used to steal, er, I mean BORROW, the trays from the cafeteria and use them as sleds. It doesn't get any better than that!

Lauren said...

HaHa, I thought that pan was an empty pie plate, and that you were going to give us a fabulous chocolatey, delicious recipe. Wishful thinking, huh? I should have recognized it though since we did the saaaaame thing as children. The five times we had snow.

Tootsie Farklepants said...

Yeah, we don't get snow either. Or much rain. People laugh at our version of rain.

Your pizza pan? I totally thought it was Jiffy Pop. I'd pay money to see you zoom down a snow covered hill riding a Jiffy Pop. Would you do that for me?

Laurel said...

My Logan is waiting for it to snow here in Mesa. I told her it doesn't snow here and she said that "it does sometimes." Yes...when hell literally freezes over we may indeed get some snow.

I think it's great you kept the pan. What great memories! Maybe Bubba and Punkin will get to use it in the next couple of days. Here's hoping!

Lauren said...

IT'S SNOWING!!! IT"S SNOWING!!! ITS REALLY REALLY SNOWING HOORAY!!!

Can we borrow the pan???

Wineplz said...

ooh! I guessed right...well, about the pan, not that it doubled as a sled. ;)

Karen said...

I love that pizza pan sled. I guess you don't just have sleds sitting around waiting for snow, do you? Never thought of it before.

Snow days are the best.

Susan said...

I bought the kids these plastic or silicone round sleds at Target a few months ago, but we have no reason at all to use them. I think the pizza pan sled might have been a better idea!

I live up in the Pittsburgh area as Burgh Baby's Mom does. My kids have worn their boots to school a few times, but there has hardly been any snow in the last year or 2. Although we don't like *long* snowy winters, it's just not the same without snow. I'm with andreanna - this global warming thing stinks.