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SOLSC #13 – Whirlwind

It is March and time for the 17th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge!
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this supportive community
of teacher-writers!
Winter Storm Warning
…in effect from 5pm Monday to 8am Wednesday
…accumulations of 12 to 18 inches
…heavy wet snow expected
…travel will be difficult to impossible
…likely result in power outages
…a long duration and high-impact snow event

These words blasted across my friend’s phone, as she checked the weather for the next few days of my visit in Connecticut. 

Oh no!, she exclaimed, Maureen - I hate to say it, but you have to get out of here. Now. This is going to be a doozy of a storm.
 
What?! 

If not for AccuWeather, we would have been absolutely blindsided by this storm. The weather yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous winter day in New England - it was sunny and in the low 40s. Impossible to believe a big storm was hurdling this way! This was a perfect day for a brisk walk, and we took a wonderful one around the lake. The world looked especially beautiful. Here’s a photo of Harwinton Lake – 

We enjoyed a three mile walk, with our usual nonstop conversation. The only pauses in our talking were the hills, lol. I always forget how much hillier it is in her neighborhood. I walk a lot at home, but I am not used to getting winded as I walk; my neighborhood is mostly flat. Note to self: I will set the goal of walking more briskly at home, picking up my pace. 

Check out these fun rock sculptures someone built in their yard. They reminded me of people, bundled up for the cold and trudging through snow to gather together. It’s been a fun visit here.

But the weather forecast was clear: this gorgeous weather was not going to continue; the storm would begin Monday evening and continue through Wednesday.. So much for a loooong weekend with my college bestie; I needed to get home to Maryland ahead of this snowstorm. With that, I was looking up flights and changing my itinerary, and I was able to book a flight for this morning.

Fast forward – first thing this morning, I woke to a rap at my door – my friend had to wake me up, because I was oversleeping. The daylight-savings time change had wrenched my “I’m always awake by 7 a.m.” into an unexpected “Hey, it’s 8 a.m., you have to get up!” I raced about in foggy-headed confusion, and we were out the door for the airport.

A fitting end to a very full two weeks, I suppose. I crammed in every possible thing – including my sleep, lol.

My friend will have the thrill of shoveling and possible outages; I will rest and recover from all the fun I have had for nearly two weeks now. And, I’ll be home and ready to babysit my grandchildren later this week. Yes, it is time to be home.

Goodbye, Connecticut! 

Welcome back, Maryland!

Published inpersonal narrativeSOLSCtravel

12 Comments

  1. Two weeks with a college bestie! I admit to being a bit envious. That sounds like a fabulous vacation. Sorry it’s cut short by old man weather. Enjoy those grands. I’m sure they’ll be glad to have grandma back in town.

    • Oh, I didn’t write clearly – I only had two days with my bestie, following a getaway that I had with my husband. I have been gone from home two weeks, but with her only for two days. Honestly, it was too long to be gone from home and I am glad to be back – can’t wait to see my grandkids!

  2. Kim Johnson Kim Johnson

    Maureen, I’m so sorry you had to cut your trip short – – that’s no fun, but of course neither is a winter storm. You’ve gone from the warmth of SC to the cold of CT all in a week’s time. I’m glad your friend was looking out for you, with weather and waking on time. Safe travels. It just means you have to get together again soon.

    • We will! I was up north for her daughter’s bridal shower – I will see her again in April, for the wedding. The wedding is here in D.C., so she’ll be traveling our way. It’s been a very full and fun two weeks – I am thankful to be home.

  3. Maureen, I’m so sorry your trip was so suddenly interrupted, but glad you made it home safely. Is it true this will be the last time change? I hope so because that spring forward event makes it really hard to adjust to sleep and life in general. Enjoy your grandchildren this week and thanks for the lovely photos. Wow, I’ve never been to Connecticut, but I really want to now!

    • I was wondering, too, if this is the last time change? Also, which time is more ‘natural’ to our bodies – ‘standard’ or ‘daylight savings’? I find this spring change so hard. I have been unusually sleepy for two days now, lol. Connecticut has many beautiful parts – coastal places and mountains; I lived there twice growing up (military father) and have fond memories. It was a fun visit, however short.

  4. Maureen.
    This is a fast paced post that keeps us in a rush reading g to find out what happens. The weather report at the beginning h is perfect. Gorgeous photos. I think there’s a poem awaiting you in that second one. I’m sorry your visit was cut short but love the way you handled the ending. Now rest!

    • What a great idea for that second photo! There were many more rock sculptures on this property…not sure what the artist was imagining, but the result delighted me. Thanks for you comment, Glenda; it is good to be home.

  5. Maureen, oh, I’m glad you were able to get the whirlwind to go just your way. Home safely and out of the 12-18 inches of wet snow! Yikes. Yes, better to be in Maryland for the beginning of this week. Well-told story, as usual! And I had forgotten to mention it before, but that shower cake with the lemon slices was gorgeous! And I bet it was sweet and sour and oh, so delicious lemon flavor.

    • It is supposed to be a pretty yucky storm, with the kind of snow that brings down power lines. I am so thankful to be back home. And, yes, that bridal shower cake was so amazing – lemon, poppyseed, and raspberry cake…yum. Thanks, Denise!

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