The ice is melting.
Just last week, I had a burst of confidence that spring was really on the way and dragged all of our summer furniture out onto our porch. And then the very next day (because I pish-tushed the weather forecast, see also: “never learn a lesson”) a foot of snow landed on it, trapping us in our house for a few hours before we managed to dig ourselves out.
That night the temperature dropped even more, and the ground turned icy (Virgil got the worst of it when he hit the porch steps at a gallop and went careening into the side of our house).
And then on Saturday morning the sun broke through, and it felt like a miracle after this crazy winter. I mean, the arrival of spring always feels amazing, but I have to say: I’ve never in my life experienced a winter like this one. I lived in Boston for four years, and winters up there are cold and miserable, sure…but this is different. When I was in college, a bad blizzard meant that I might not make it to class; now it means that we might not have power for a week. Or that a tree might fall on our car or through our roof. Or that power lines might go down in our street, trapping us in our heat- and light-free home until the very nice Con Edison gentlemen get a chance to swing by.
And it’s not like we’re living in Alaska; we’re in Westchester, for god’s sake. I guess it’s just that until recently I never felt like the weather impacted me a ton – when you live in the city you notice it, sure, and it affects where you go and what you do…but it was never a physical presence in my life in this particular way. And maybe it’s just that the stakes are higher now – we have a home and a family that we’re responsible for, and that’s not a small thing – but the truth is that from time to time it’s been stressful. Even scary.
Which is all to say that on Saturday morning, when the sun first came crawling into our backyard, we were standing right there with our faces tilted up to the sky.
By Sunday morning the snow was gone, and for the first time in months we ventured outside without our coats, ran around with the dogs, and got to dreaming about picnics and sunshine and those water wings we’ll be buying for our son.
Last summer was the best summer of my entire life, for reasons both large and small.
Here’s to this one being even better.
On me: Vinnie Gilet White Vest c/o Supertrash, Sanctuary denim button-down, Timex watch, Rebecca Minkoff purse, jeans via TJ Maxx, Sevan Boots c/o TSUBO, Ann Taylor Pave Hoop Earrings.
