Snow Day - Our Emotional Ties to Weather

I find the possibility of a snow day exciting. It brings back memories of those glorious days of freedom from the tortures of school. We would race outside to build a snowman or a snow fort. We would spend all morning making an arsenal of perfectly formed snowballs to hurl at each other. Then we would battle until our faces were red and our clothing was soaked with melting snow. It was exciting and invigorating and it wasn't school.


Emotionally, I still look forward to a snow storm the same as I did when I was a child. My mind refuses to believe that this force of nature isn't actually as exciting as I remember it. As an adult who works at home, I have no excuse for not showing up at work. I have no excuse for not making sure the pantry is stocked with enough bread, eggs and milk to get us through if we are snowed in. My husband has no such luxury either because he has to make sure the snow blower is on the tractor and is functioning properly. A blizzard is a hazardous weather event and, yet, we look forward to it like naive pioneers seeking new adventures on the barren plains.


Perhaps that is the appeal. A snowstorm presents us with the possibility that we might actually have to survive something. It takes us away from our perceived, always-sheltered existence and puts us up against Mother Nature. 


Or, perhaps, it is simply a good reason to stay home and not go to work or school.


Which, I am doing right now, though I have no good excuse. Even though the snow is piling up outside, I'm pretty sure a hole hasn't formed in the roof over the hallway leading from the old part of our house out to the office. Perhaps I'll just call in sick instead.