As a single mom who lost power for most of 2 days and nights in the last storm, a new business owner, and someone who thinks the best weather months in Charlottesville are July and August, this snow has challenged me on all fronts: physically, emotionally, financially.  

As someone who offers to others the idea of choosing happiness no matter what as a spiritual practice, this weather has challenged me to practice what I preach.

In that spirit, I wrote a Snow Gratitude list, acknowledging the many wonderful gifts the snow has brought me.  If you want, write your own list and email it to me .  I'll post them anonymously on the website and we'll collectively send a big "YES" of appreciation out to the Universe.

These are the lists:

Spending time hanging out with and enjoying my kids . Nowhere to go, no schedules to keep means more time simply being together.

Heat, Electricity and Running Water .

The Dominion Power Crews who worked hard to restore power in what must have been very cold and uncomfortable circumstances.

Baking Bread, Pie, Cookies and other treats that make us happy and create good kitchen smells.

My neighbor who, without saying anything, started digging away at the snowplow wall of ice blocking my driveway.  Another neighbor who I barely know, and her brother with the snowblower . She sent him over twice to help me dig out because she knew I live alone and could use the help.

My friends who had me over to spend the night when my house got cold.

The Wii the kids got for Christmas and my friend who helped me  get it.  Families spending lots of  time indoors need something to do.

Zach, and the Ashtanga Yoga Classes at ACAC, for helping me build muscles and core strength that came in handy digging out snow and ice.

Ibuprofin , because "gym muscles" are slightly different than ones used in physical labor.

Reiki , which helped me relax and reduce my stress.

My cell phone with internet access , so I could stay in touch even without power.

Finding my lost earring because I  finally had time to do a thorough house cleaning.

My friend who fixed my fireplace this fall, and the intuitive who suggested during a reading that I really needed to get that done.

Doritos.

My children's essential good nature and sense of adventure that meant even living in the cold and dark was a playful, fun event.

Lost.   I can't decide if this show is brilliant or ridiculous, but the season premiere gave a nice distraction.

I am snowly grateful for:

≈ the owner of small business in town who encourages us to be grateful for the snow and write an email to her to share so that it will spread

≈ friends who too me and my dog in for 4 nights with no heat, water, lights. phone

 

≈ the opportunity to walk through some of the fear of being alone in such times

 

≈ my sweet old house and somewhat sagging roof for bearing the weight and pressure of this heavy snow

 

≈ my pipes for keeping the water flowing and not bursting during the frigid temps

 

≈ my sweet dog for being my constant companion and going with the flow

 

≈ my wonder cat for understanding that we had to leave him in the house in the dark, in the cold, for a few days and for   trusting that we'd be back

 

≈ the folks at Central VA Electrical Cooperative for trudging through the snow and ice and climbing up polls and putting themselves in danger so that we could all go back home

 

≈ the other folks at Central VA Electrical Cooperative for manning the phonecalls and being patient with me the 5 times I called to check my status

 

≈ the phone company for the same reasons

 

≈ my trusty laptop and cell phone for keeping me in touch with my friends and family

 

≈ shoveling....wonderful cardio exercise and a great diversion from worrying about my cat and house on the hill

 

≈ movies/popcorn/and my brief return to Diet Coke having broken free from the addiction (I thought) in June

 

≈ baking organic oatmeal raisin cookies for my friends who too me in

 

≈ my wonderful car for getting me around safely on these rural routes

 

≈ my friend who told me about driving on snow and ice in a lower gear

 

≈ all the emergency services out there who never stop...police, fire, ambulance, hospital employees

 

≈ my friend, with whom I stayed during the latest storm, who worked the Intensive Neonatal Care Unit every day in this storm saving the lives of teeny tiny babies

 

≈ schools for being smart and NOT putting kids at risk sending them to school on buses with roads in this condition...despite the pressure of SOL testing coming up

 

≈ my therapist for having a phone session with me today instead of driving to town due to the threat of more snow

 

≈ the birds who keep coming around no matter what...and grateful for the birdseed I have to feed them

 

≈ my guitar and the songs I am writing while confined to the house

 

≈ the time to practice for a Valentine's Day gig that I've not really practiced for!!!

 

≈ books I wanted to read but haven't given myself time to do so

 

≈ blankets, sweaters, warm socks

 

≈ battery operated lighting

 

≈ plenty of food to eat and water to drink

Sitting in front of a cozy fire

Playing in the snow

Getting a cardio workout keeping the driveway clear every 3 hours

The silence of the snow

Taking pictures of the winter wonderland

Forced changes in routine

that we didn't lose power

 

for our neighbor who plowed part of the snow away for us and for my husband and kids who did the rest of our substantial driveway

 

for having lots of family time

 

for sorry, outburst, clue, charades

 

for sleeping in with the kids on their unexpected second winter break (they have been in school 0.7 days out of a possible 7...... which is surely the top of THEIR gratitude lists)

 

that my dryer kept up with all those wet pairs of snowpants, gloves and coats

 

that my better half made homemade pizza and waffles

 

and that we were able to share our warm house and warm food with friends who made the snow days feel more cosy and fun.

 

In the midst of the heavyest snowfall on the first night of the storm, I lit several votive candles and snuggled them into the snow drift on our deck railing where we could see them from our kitchen window. Very beautiful!

 

I especially liked your comments regarding the hard working electric company linemen/women (and yes there are women on those crews). My husband was a lineman for VA Power for over 30 years. I know how many hours they spend away from home in all types of weather to restore electricity to others. They often work 16-20-24 hours straight. Well, hubby ... See More did; bit, I think OSHA has restricted it to 16 hrs now. So, when you see electric company trucks in hotel parking lots, please know that they are getting a well deserved and needed rejuvenation! And that is only 8 hours off from work, NOT 8 hours of sleep. There is a big difference!

Oh, and let's give a big hand to the crews that cleared the roads for this last storm. The roads are in far better condition than after the December storm!