I'm concerned about the coming snow.

 

This is an image of children sledding at nearby Croton Gorge Park.  Not much has changed here since this picture was taken, save that tree growth has shortened the area where kids can sled down the hill.  Every time we get a "good" snow storm, my mind is drawn back to my childhood, where I had access to one run where I could sled down a hill for a distance of 1/4 mile.  Today's kids have no idea how much fun a long sled ride can be.  But then, if I were going to excel at a sport with the interests I had when young, it would have likely been the luge or skeleton.  Obviously, my life took a very different path since then.

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Sometime this weekend, we will get the first truly heavy snow of the season.  And I dread having to clean 12 inches (or more) of the white stuff off my car.  It will get in the way of me going outside as Marian.  It will make it impossible for me to consider going to church this Sunday.  It is just as well.  RQS and I will likely spend another weekend relaxing at home, something we both need to do.  (It's more so that RQS needs to relax.  But that's another story.)

I may end up placing another Amazon order, buying things that I can use, but don't absolutely need.  Most recently, I bought a set of 4 mouse pads, even though I needed only one.  This mouse pad fits perfectly into my armrest tray, an area which is perfect for mouse use while my laptop sits on my lap.  But I think I may do some apartment decluttering, some laundry, and make a new batch of onion soup to keep us warm on a cold winter's day.

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Given that I am getting older, there are just so many days left for me to be able to clear off my car and drive safely in inclement weather.  I felt that my father lost his ability to drive safely while he was in his 80's.  Considering that I am one of his two offspring, I'll have to keep this in mind as each year passes.  Further and further away is the time where I could safely sled down a hill, only stopping when the effects of gravitational acceleration are negated by friction.  Now, I have to be concerned about unplanned falls, and other situations where I may not be able to get back up as I did when I was younger.

Should I talk about the snow that fell?

 

 

I didn't know what to start with first.  So I figured that I'd talk about the first major snowfall we've had in the NYC area this winter, then progress onto other things.

The weatherman predicted that we'd receive 12-18 inches of snow between 5 pm Wednesday and 12 pm Thursday.  Although he was slightly off with his numbers, he was "close enough for government work."  We were on the lower end of that range when the snow ended.  So, around 1 pm on Thursday, I got dressed as Mario and shoveled out my car.  From there, I made it to Croton Dam Park to take some winter pictures.  Part of me wishes I were about 55 years younger, and be one of the kids sledding down the hill in one of the pictures below.

There will always be a part of me that loves winter.  And I have gotten some of my best photographs during this season.  Of the shots I took today, I consider these two my favorites.  There is something about the approach to the bridge that always interests me, but this picture doesn't do the bridge justice.  However, I love the children sledding down the hill, and this picture captures some of the last people to enjoy the hill before the sun set for the day.  If I'm lucky, I'll be able to get more photos there before the magic of this place leaves, waiting for the next heavy snowfall.

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The day after I took the above pictures, I didn't wake up until noon.  (I couldn't get to sleep the night before, and was awake almost to sunrise.  When I did get up, I didn't do much of anything.  And this is why I plan to start looking for work.  It is way too easy for me to get used to doing nothing and getting depressed due to a lack of activity.