& that's the way life goes

I got up around 6:30am and knew, before I even had a foot out of bed, that I wouldn’t be leaving on time. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded out to the kitchen to make coffee like I do every morning. As usual C♥ was tending to the dogs like the good husband he is. We have our morning routine pretty much down, but this morning I broke it. I sat at the kitchen table while the coffee brewed and turned on the news. I saw all the school closings and then came the traffic. Yep, no way in hell was I leaving during rush hour. Because of all the snow, the road crews couldn’t clear it all in time for the morning traffic. I leisurely got up from my spot at the kitchen table and poured myself and C♥ a cup of coffee and did what I never get to do. I watched the morning news while sipping my french roast coffee and eating a cranberry orange muffin. C♥ was still planning on leaving for work on time, so he’s interrupting “my time” asking me to pack his lunch. So I did as I was asked and then went back to my aromatic mug. I realize why I don’t watch the news any more, the focus isn’t on the important issues, just the scandalous and whatever news the camera crews got good angles on. It’s sad.By this time C♥ is getting ready to leave, his car is warming in the driveway. He gives me a kiss and heads out the door, only to come in 5 minutes later. He’s “checked” the roads and only one lane is visible on each side and it’s too messy to leave just yet. He decides he’s going to shovel. But C♥ is anything but quick in the morning, so he takes off his coat and finishes watching the Today show with me. At 8am, I make my way to my desk and take out the work I brought home with me. I anticipated the late morning commute. After I’m done (and after C♥ has come in to bug me often), we head outside to shovel. We get to play with the dogs which is inspiring to me. I love that I got to spend extra time with them this morning. Nani and Scooby love the snow, it’s so deep it goes past their elbows.

But it’s finally time to leave and what ruins my morning are that on the 20 or so miles that I drive on the freeway, I see 11 cars that are stranded on the side of the road. It’s a reminder that although the snow is pretty, clean and refreshing when you have to leave your cocoon it’s dangerous and unforgiving. Mother Nature is a powerful thing.