Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Snow Day

Need further proof that birds ain't dumb? Would you want to hang out in this birdhouse through the winter months in Maine? Didn't think so.

Back in elementary school, life was easy. I didn't have to worry about shoveling or plowing a driveway, keeping the woodpile stacked or dreading the days the oil delivery truck backed up the driveway. Things are different now. I never kept track of snowstorms the night before. Of course, the sounds of plows and the jingle-jangle of their chains, outside my bedroom window, was the first clue. I just waited for Mom to yell up the stairs, "No school!" When I heard those joyful words, I'd flick on my radio and listen over and over again to the 'no school announcements'. I never fell back asleep. I just listened every 15 minutes or so to the repeating sweet sound of the DJ's refrain. "No school, Portland.
Life was mighty fine.
If there were days where I really could say, "Not a care in the world", these were the times.
A whole day ahead.
What to do! What to do!
I don't have to worry about that these days. 

13 comments:

  1. I do know something about heating oil. Years ago when in grad school in Chicago I worked for the Great Northern Oil Company at night and one of my jobs was to top off the oil trucks so they were ready to go in the morning. One morning I was not able to get home because of a winter storm that dropped 24 inches of snow on the city.

    No heating oil used down here that I know of. But we do have a few Maine birds perched in our trees crabbing about how cold it is. I tell 'em go back to Maine if they don't like it. But nobody listens to me.

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  2. Poor little chicks; wonder where they are lodging now. Probably too many snow days this year for man or beast.

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  3. Ah yes, I love hearing those words too!

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  4. Impressive snow there!
    I guess some birds went to Brazil and they are enjoying delicious weather right now!
    ;)
    I wish I could be there as well!
    hugs and stay warm!
    Léia

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  5. so true. unexpected freedom. *sigh*

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  6. As a kid, living on mediterranean shore, I was DREAMING to hear that one day : no school because of snow. Do I need to say that it NEVER happened?...

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  7. Just got in from shoveling snow, and more blizzard predicted. Yep, should have gone south.

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  8. my kids are on day 2 of snow days! it's good being a kid!

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  9. I remember those magical days too! We would spend all day outside playing in the snow. Oh to be a kid again.

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  10. My four children repeated your feelings when they heard "no school." In the 13 years I walked to public school we never had school called -- and I lived in Michigan. I think it was because the teachers wanted to punish us. -- barbara

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  11. As a teacher I get the news about no school, but now it is a robo-call at too early in the morning. lol

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  12. Their heater must be on the fritz.

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  13. Yep, that was a real highlight, that "No school!" shout out. I might just call that out to myself one day this week . . . and go back to bed . . .

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