January didn’t fail to live up to its natural reputation. This week our area received some snow and cold temperatures. Students got an extra day off, and the normally scheduled routines adults expected to do were disrupted. Not to mention the rotavirus (“stomach flu”) spreading around the area. It wasn’t worth it to get up in the morning.
Except one must get up and go to work when they have a job, even if it involves a small space in your home dedicated to the workplace you used to go elsewhere to do what brings in your paycheck. Or I should say, because your workspace is in your home and cannot be denied.
I saw my neighbor for a few seconds as she stepped out, and she informed me that she had been instructed to come in to work for a few days. I had to restrain myself from clasping her knees and begging to go in her place. I am not sure what she does, but I’d learn on the fly (or get her fired).
When most of the people on the block are back in the workplace, the experience for me as a homedwelling employee is akin to being caretaker at a graveyard.
Only the graves have house numbers and holiday decorations still up. I can stand in the middle of the street, and not a soul is in sight for blocks.
We also received an exclusive federal holiday honoring Jimmy Carter, our former humanitarian president who passed away recently, and whose funeral was held in the National Cathedral on Thursday. Federal offices were closed, and no mail delivery.
Our trash collection was moved to Thursday for the third consecutive week due to the snow.
It was as if we had moved from December to a new month called Chaosuary.
However, I was determined not to succumb to the vast white outdoors, the demands of working in a cold home in which every draft felt like a finger down the spine, leftovers for four consecutive days and, for reasons I can’t explain, needing to deal with a puddle in my cellar.
When I finally got the opportunity to go outside for an extended time without risking frostbite, I walked to the store and bought a few supplies, took advantage of the warmer temps to grab an extra shower, ran a load of laundry and did some housekeeping. And I popped a vitamin D. At least I’m a happy groundskeeper at the graveyard.
Overnight we got another dusting of snow, but at least it was sweepable. I went out with my favorite broom and swept the pavement on the homes on both sides of me, my driveway and apron and my neighbor’s, since they were out. I’m not sure where they went on a snowy morning, but I do know by the footprints in the snow that somebody walked their dog in the early hours (and they don’t own a dog right now). The weather warmed up enough to melt and dry the rest, though on our side of the block, we still have snow on our lawns; the other side is pristine (dried out) green.
Fortunately I was able to do some tasks today, such as finishing my grocery shopping, without the car digout I was subjected to on Monday. My car was coated, so I needed to dig out twice. Today’s was better, since I could use my broom.
It beats digging graves.
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