Paws For Reflection

Betsy, RVC

Are you feeling snowed in, snowed under or just plain snowed? Somehow I think this weather does this to us. However, I've made some observations about snow and life.

Don't complain about the amount of snow. You don't get any sympathy and most people will remind you that we need the water. People who live out of the region relish laughing at us. I made the mistake of sending a message to various Mensans who don't live in the area asking them to STOP singing, humming, or even thinking of songs such as White Christmas, Frosty the Snowman and especially Winter Wonderland. Did I get sympathy (or even offers of help to dig me out)? NO, what I received was weather reports from Nevada, Texas and Florida. People actually admitted they went swimming while I was attempting to shovel 15 inches of snow.

Another observation: the person you hired to plow your driveway will go away just before a major snowstorm. He'll hire someone to be on alert but that doesn't mean the person will actually plow you out. OK. So you bite the bullet, grab the shovel, and start to dig yourself out. Take it slow as you keep hearing all the medical reports. Finally reach the major obstacle left at the edge of your driveway by the highway department plows, shovel that, stand back proudly and breathe a sigh of relief. You know what comes next, I'm sure. Either the highway department plow comes by again or the person you've paid finally shows up.

Casper and Snowball love the snow. Casper acts as a snowplow and breaks a path for Snowbie. What a friend! Reminds me of some Mensans who try to make life easier for all of us.

Plan to break the winter doldrums and get away if you can. I'm going south the first weekend in February to attend the finance committee meeting, although if I could I'd much rather be in Martinique with the Club Med SIG.

February 14-16th will find me at Granite Gathering Aught Three at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Merrimack, NH. Later this month I'll be at Snowball XXIX in Piscataway, New Jersey. Plan to get away in April to a New York State of Mind in Staten Island the weekend of April 25th - 27th. Hopefully, I'll see some of you at these gatherings. Stay warm.

Betsy & pups