Beloved,

Have you survived the Blizzard of 2015? Mother Nature has had fun with the weathermen again, she loves to challenge them and it is quite a challenge. They are expected to be precise as to just where and how much awaits the people in every town and city. The weathermen saved much aggravation and lives as without their prediction, no state of emergency would have been called in Massachusetts. No roads would have closed so people might have been trapped in the cars as has happened in the past. No schools and businesses would have closed. Even the Post Office closed! I worked at the Post Office for 23 years and never once did they shut down, not for weather or even Christmas. The people who work at the Post Office and those that deliver our mail should be thanked for all of their dedication through all kinds of weather and other obstacles. Am I prejudiced? Perhaps, as in my travels to other countries, I have found that we have the best mail delivery in the WORLD. We do take them for granted and it would be nice if they received some recognition for all their successful efforts. How about sending a card to your local Post Office or even the large distribution center which handles billions of pieces of our mail?

Here in Wales, we got at least 2 feet and with the constant winds, the drifts were very high. The wind forms a mini whirlwind of snow right around my house. The lake on one side of my home causes the circular wind pattern and drops more snow right on my doorstep and in front of the garage than it does on the side towards the lake. I need to keep shoveling my stoop because if I don’t, the snow gets so deep that I cannot open my storm door to get out of my home. With this blizzard, no matter how many times I shoveled, Mother Nature would put it right back. Two young men who do my plowing and shoveling (it is hard to find someone to shovel and they do both for me) came Tuesday night to plow me out and I teased one of them by asking: “Are you masquerading as a snow man?” His eyebrows and eyelashes were covered with snow and frozen as well as most of his face. He was so cold from the winter that he had to get into his truck because his nose was so cold. I don’t think he has this problem in very many other places because the wind is not so fierce.

The next morning I got up and, of course, the snow on my stoop was deep. It is a good thing I am not heavy as I could only push the snow just so far with the door. I got an opening so I could get one arm and my shovel out the door so I could maneuver the shovel and my body to at least push the snow outside one layer at a time. Then I had a larger opening so I could squeeze through to get my body out there. The snow was as high as my railings so it was difficult to pick up the shovel of show high enough to deposit it. I finally just pushed it all onto my sidewalk which was already high but I had to get a clear space to open the door or I would be a prisoner waiting for someone from the outside world to come and rescue me. I called the young men and asked if they could come back again and let me out. I have never had to call them two days in a row. I could not even get to my garage to use my car although it too was blocked by snow. My main focus in winter is to keep a path from my door, my stoop, the sidewalk and across the driveway to my garage free of snow and ice so I won’t slip and fall.

The next day, my son Steve came to clean up more. I used the scraper to lift the frozen snow and then I could push it over to a clear spot that the men had made for me with the plow. There is no way I could shovel as it just was too high for me. Steve shoveled a path in the front of the house to the birdfeeders for me but the other path to the other birdfeeders on the other side of the house was just too hardened and high to create a path. I guess they will just have to come to the front of my house.

This storm has reminded me of how much I dislike the problems that are caused for me by the snow. I feel trapped normally with severe storms but this time, the snow made me feel elderly and unable to take care of myself. I do not like that feeling as I am what I call Cussedly Independent. I have lived alone for the last 25 years and that scenario increased my need to depend on myself. I think I was given an opportunity to become aware again of living here on the lake in the winter. I think it is time that I consider being a snowbird. Do you know anyone who is a snowbird that I could speak to? I would love to get tips from someone who does that. Do you know any place in a warm climate, preferably with a warm ocean that has places for rent in the winter? If you do, I would love to know about it. You can contact me or tell them so they can contact me.

I am calling this the Winds of Change as the wind is helping me make changes again to my life. We all get opportunities of change by listening to what Mother Nature tells us in so many ways. Change is difficult for the human, me included. I prefer to be content with what I have or where I am but to change residences when you are alone is much more difficult. It means the UNKNOWN. How we humans dislike the unknown, we like to be in charge, to be in control. I know I like to feel in control and I am chuckling now because change is a very necessary phase of life. Change means growth in areas where we were oh so comfortable. The world cannot change unless we do, so it is important to embrace change. My new mantra is: “Embrace the Winds of Change”.

Have you heard of Nellie Bly? I had heard the name before but this video refreshed and added info about her. She is quite a model for us ladies who wish to walk our own path and be ”Cussedly Independent”. How can I complain about one storm after having such a role model? I am so grateful for all the females who came before me so that I am allowed to be independent.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/events070125/

This is one being experiencing an opportunity to change her entire life. What courage it must take to “see” what you have never seen before. Another female role model and kudos to her hubby who loved her no matter what.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/donated-eyewear-allows-blind-mother-see-newborn-baby/

Here are a couple of other female warriors and kudos for her hubby’s support until she was ready to take the plunge.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/two-elderly-ladies-flying-first-time-watch-support/

I am so glad that we are still being shown the police and all the good that they do even when they do not get recognition for it. Notice the husband supporting his mentally frail wife. There is so much good in the world and I, for one, would love to see more media coverage about our average people and how much they help.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/cops-buy-back-pawned-wedding-ring-elderly-cornwall-couple/

Tomorrow, Jan 31St, I will be reading from my book, The Wounded Chalice, at the Central Branch of the Springfield City Library at 220 State St, Springfield, Ma. I am participating in the “7 minutes’ Literary Arts Spotlight. There are 10 authors who will each read for 7 minutes from their creation. I wanted to let you know about it. It will be from 1-3pm tomorrow afternoon.

I guess Spring is on my mind as I am hoping it comes soon(after all, tomorrow is Feb 1st). I wanted to leave you with a chuckle and it reminded me of Spring

You will chuckle as you read this ….. Because as stupid as it may sound,
this is exactly what we do!

GOD to ST. FRANCIS:
Frank, … You know all about gardens and nature. What in
the world is going on down there on the planet? What
happened to the dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff
I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden
plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the
long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey bees and
flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of
colors by now. But, all I see are these green rectangles.

St. FRANCIS:
It’s the tribes that settled there, Lord. The Suburbanites.
They started calling your flowers ‘weeds’ and went to
great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.

GOD:
Grass? But, it’s so boring. It’s not colorful. It doesn’t
attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs and sod
worms. It’s sensitive to temperatures. Do these
Suburbanites really want all that grass growing there?

ST. FRANCIS:
Apparently so, Lord. They go to great pains to grow it
and keep it green. They begin each spring by fertilizing
grass and poisoning any other plant that crops up in the lawn.

GOD:
The spring rains and warm weather probably make
grass grow really fast. That must make the Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS:
Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it grows a little, they
cut it-sometimes twice a week.

GOD:
They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?

ST. FRANCIS:
Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.

GOD:
They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?

ST. FRANCIS:
No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.

GOD:
Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass so
it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?

ST. FRANCIS:
Yes, Sir.

GOD:
These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer
when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat.
That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.

ST. FRANCIS:
You aren’t going to believe this, Lord. When the grass
stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay
more money to water it, so they can continue to mow
it and pay to get rid of it.

GOD:
What nonsense. At least they kept some of the trees.
That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself.
The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty
and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they fall to
the ground and form a natural blanket to keep moisture
in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. It’s a
natural cycle of life.

ST. FRANCIS:
You better sit down, Lord. The Suburbanites have
drawn a new circle. As soon as the leaves fall, they
rake them into great piles and pay to have them
hauled away.

GOD:
No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?

ST. FRANCIS:
After throwing away the leaves, they go out and buy
something which they call mulch. They haul it home
and spread it around in place of the leaves.

GOD:
And where do they get this mulch?

ST. FRANCIS:
They cut down trees and grind them up to make the mulch.

GOD:
Enough! I don’t want to think about this anymore.
St. Catherine, you’re in charge of the arts. What movie
have you scheduled for us tonight?

ST. CATHERINE:
‘Dumb and Dumber’, Lord. It’s a story about….

GOD:
Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.

—
Love and Light

Mary Grace

http://www.IAmMaryGrace.com
http://www.TheWoundedChalice.com