Öluar Is Pleased

Snow day!

Although, before we get too excited, it should be noted that it is not so much snow as ice and that strictly speaking, not even that would prevent us from leaving home.

Here's our street:














The Child woke up at 8:30. "Mom? Why am I not at school?"

"Snow day!" I cheerily replied.

"Why?"



















You need to understand the geography of Seattle. First, it is a city built on 7 hills (yes, just like Roma). Also, the "metro area" is a sprawling one. This means that parts of town get hit harder than others and that ice makes many of our major streets impassable. Because they are at a significant incline.

So while areas north, south and east of us got measurable snowfall last night and us not so much, we're all in this together.



















The Seahawks played (and won) in the snow last night. Some fans were still trying to get home at 5am this morning.

The thing is, we get so little snow around here that even the natives, let alone the Californicating transplants, have no idea how to drive in it. I don't know how to drive in it. Lord, if I were out and about and it started snowing I would be so screwed. I don't even know how to put on the snow chains that I think I have somewhere. It's just not a skill one really needs around here. Which is why we are completely gobsmacked at the merest dusting of the white stuff.

I know all you Canadian and midwestern readers are laughing your heads off right now.



















Once upon a time, when I was a nanny, it started to snow. It snowed so much that the mom was only able to drive a few hilly blocks before coming back home. She was a work-a-holic and kept hoping that the snow would stop and melt and she could go in. After about an hour, with a pretty impressive accumulation and no sign of let up, she told me I should probably try and get home.

I waited for the bus for a while and it became clear that it wasn't coming any time soon. My nanny family lived in the Ravenna neighborhood, which is just a smidge north and east of the University District. I knew there would be more bus options closer in so I started to walk. After about 20 cold, sloppy blocks, I stopped at a little restaurant and ordered the most delicous black bean soup I've ever tasted, had a glass of wine and rested. After sufficient warming and carbo loading, I set out again, finally gaining the U district. Where the bus stops were crammed with people waiting for the few paltry buses that had managed to get chains on.

So I kept walking. My trip to work was a multi-bus affair so I figured I'd just make it to the main stop, the one that would get me straight home. It was up above the freeway. When I finally got there, after about another hour of snow walking (which is harder than regular walking, btw), there were no less than 60 people jammed into the tiny shelter. And they'd been waiting a long time.

So I kept walking. Now I want all you Seattlites, former and current, to pay attention to this. I walked from the border of Wedgewood, all the way through Ravenna and the U district. I finally made it Wallingford. It was about 3 hours into my hike and it was still snowing. Hard. I stopped somewhere along the way and got a coffee. I was hoping to pass a ski shop because I was seriously going to buy some cross country skis or some snowshoes, but alas. I kept walking, another 2 cold hours or so until I got to Greenwood and my friend Peggy's house. She was home. Thanks be to Öluar. She gave me hot things to drink and eat and we watched the news, which was full of snow reports. Peggy, being from Colorado, was mystified. "But there's only 8 or 10 inches on the ground. What's the matter with you people?"

"Don't you have snow days in Colorado?" I asked.

"Sure. If it gets to 2 feet or something. But this is nothing!"

Well, not to her, but in this hilly land full of snow novices, where the county owns all of 3 snow plows, it's big deal. A shut-down-the-city-and-pray-to-God-you-have-enough-toilet-paper-in-the-house-because-you-aren't-going-anywhere big deal.

But like I said, that's hardly the situation this morning. I've got to put gas in the car and go to the bank. I think it'll be fine.

Meanwhile, The Child has gone out to not build snowmen and not go sledding with the Mead Street gang. Because it's a snow day.