Eeeek! A Snowflake!

We don't get a lot of snow here in Western North Carolina, but when we do there are two things you can count on: 1.) We do not know how to drive in real winter weather; and 2.) Everything, EVERYTHING shuts down (...after everyone's made a mad dash to the grocery store for milk, bread, eggs and toilet paper. Why we stock up on supplies to make French Toast is beyond me, but there you have it). The best thing about snow days when I was growing up was being able to go out and play in the snow all day (...with getting out of school coming in a close second). We built snowmen, had snowball fights, went sledding, and wore our cheerleading shoes to slip and slide over the fluffy, frozen white stuff, completely unconcerned with falling down...in fact the only concern was whether or not we had marshmellows for our hot chocolate. We'd stay out until everything on our bodies was cold, unable to even feel our feet. Aunt Mattie would be waiting for us to come in and thaw out with cups of her amazing cocoa, made with real milk and chocolate syrup and cooked on the stove until it was the perfect temperature (she'd put it in coffee cups and MAN did we feel cool being able to drink out of them). Once we were warm, we'd head back out until it was either too late, or too dark to play anymore, exhausted and giddy from a day filled with simple fun. I miss those kinds of days. Even though my childhood had a lot of scary, difficult things going on, I still have a handful of memories that are utterly carefree...snow days are one of them. Somewhere along our journey to adulthood, it seems like we lose that and there are times when I really want it back (...pretty sure I'm not alone. Being a grown-up is a TRAP!).

Today I've been listening to the neighborhood kids outside playing, yearning for a way to just chuck all of these grown-up worries and enjoy the snow with people I love (...which would require a plane ticket or two). I've been looking at soup recipes with my daughter for dinner (...because she said, "Mom, we really should be making soup since it's so cold"). I think we've decided on a Ravioli Soup recipe we found, mostly due to the fact that we have all of the ingredients on hand. We'll make big, buttery pieces of garlic bread to dunk into the thick, creamy tomato broth; not quite the Mardi Gras menu norm, but that's okay. The spirit of today is supposed to be Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler ("Let the good times roll") and having our first winter snow on Fat Tuesday seems like it would be the perfect scenario to do this, but for me, not so much. While the snow is truly lovely and there are a lot of happy things going on in my life, I'm feeling a bit lost and discombobulated. So, if you're willing and able...grab some snow boots and waterproof gloves and come play with me. We'll forget our worries till we're too cold to care, and then I'll make the hot cocoa to warm us up. I have fresh marshmellows!

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