According to my daughter, the snow being experienced in the Puget Sound area is causing people to loose.their.minds. #snowmaggedon has arrived. My yard has measured in at a total of 15 inches over the last 7 days. Grocery stores are selling out of eggs, bread, milk. My Facebook feed is full of shots of empty bread shelves and complaints that stores don’t have everything fully stocked. Yet, other than not being able to pick up a new snow shovel, I have been able to buy everything on my list.
I consider myself growing up blue-collar. My daddy, a union man, drank and gambled part of his weekly paycheck, showing up Friday night late with hundred dollar bills from his cashed paycheck. My mamma would be frustrated as they discussed, at high decibels, how she was going to pay for Saturday groceries: 5 kids can eat a lot of food. My mom worked full time from, always. Neither one had a college education, my mom was a high school drop out.
We always had running water. There was always food in the fridge and peanut butter in the cupboard. The lights and heat were always on.
Until one winter break the snow took out the power line to our house. Yep, everyone BUT us had electricity. For 5 long days we were cold. Really cold. I’m not sure what we ate, I’m thinking lots of cold cereal. Because, we always ate cereal. it was a go to meal.
My mom and dad went to work every single snow day. I can’t remember either one of them calling in sick; they always went to work. Because if they stayed home, they did not get paid. And the burden of providing for our family was real.
Side Note: Cereal and milk, I still find it comforting today. Seriously, frosted flakes, yum. Cinnamon apple jacks, yes please. Even, shredded wheat gives me happy memories.
As I write this more snow is falling, with a prediction of 1-3 more inches. Schools are closed around the region. My morning fitness class was cancelled. Probably the mail won’t be delivered today, which is not a big concern of mine. With auto-deposit, online bill pay, electronic statements & digital magazines does it really matter if the mail hasn’t been delivered for a week?
Maybe I can get #weeklymaildelivery trending.
Stay safe and warm friends. See you after the big thaw.
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