January 5, 2010

• Oddities

  My world wakes differently when there is school.  Walking out this morning the world is still cold and white but there are more lights one.  Cars and trucks are running in driveways waiting for passengers.  Today is the real start of the work week.  Yesterday was an extra gift, found at the bottom of the stocking and all the more exciting because it is discovered after the fact.  The dogs are impatient with my lack of fur.  I can’t convince them that I don’t have a hidden fur skin somewhere.  They scramble and wiggle by the door while I put on layer after layer of clothing to enjoy the morning.  I learned a long time ago that the trick to enjoying winter is giving up the fashion plate thing and dressing in a million layers.  By the time I get bundled and open the door the canine excitement is off the charts.  And out we bound – actually two of us bound.  One of us travels carefully up the back steps, testing for ice and slickness.  Those with four legs bound and romp and then – most of the time – come back and wait patiently for leashes.  They are learning that if they listen they get longer run around time but once we reach the corner all bets are off and leashes must be attached.  And it is in rounding that corner that the oddity appears.
  There is only one one-way street in this village and if I lived on it I think I’d refuse to pay taxes.  There is no distinction between lawn and street.  Does the road crew forget Plum St. exists? (How could it?  The Village is only 2 square miles.)  Maybe no one that lives there has to leave for work in the morning? (Nope.  I know people who have to leave early in the morning.) Maybe there’s been a petition and Plum St. doesn’t want to be plowed and cleared? (Now there’s a stretch.)  Nope, I’ve got it.  The whole population of that street is a snow cult.  Once the rest of the Village goes off to work and school, a vast population of snow bunnies pour out of the windows and doorways and roll around naked in the snow.  Nope.  Wait.  I’ve really got it this time.  They keep penguins and polar bears as pets on that street.  They need the snow.  They love the snow, and the unplowed street and unshoveled walks.  Polar bears and penguins.  If I live on Plum St.  I can have one.  Awesome!

  And so it goes.

  • 7:27 am
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