Photo by jacdupree
Last Thursday was a snow day for my kids. Which meant an unexpected day to entertain the little ones, while not dumping more Kahlua in my coffee than necessary. Because, as much destruction happens when I’m coherent, I can only imagine the amount of destruction that would happen if I was not coherent. Some of the other moms I know had the same idea, and by 11 am we were all in Lincoln Park, consoling each other as our children ran wild and hopefully tired enough for a nap. This got me thinking of how fortunate I was to live in a community where we have neighbors, that even in the throws of a blizzard we don’t need to be isolated.
As I was walking home from the park with the kids, my mind wandered to my childhood snow days. We lived in a rural area in Pennsylvania, that if there was a big snow, the only way you were getting anywhere is if you happened to have a sled and some dogs. Okay, maybe not that bad, but bad. There were three of us, and when it snowed my poor mother would be snowed in with us, with no way to get us to a play date, and even if she could I’m not sure she would have picked us up. So, there we were in the middle of nowhere, while my mother had to be the entertainment committee with no sign of reprieve. I really hope she drowned her coffee in more than Kahlua.
Last year during Snow-Maggedeon with school being closed for over a week, there were days when there was a good chance our house was going to turn into The Shining. Having a kid named Jack sure wasn’t helping. However, on the Hill there were several other families dealing with the same torture, and because we do live in a row house community, salvation was never far. Throughout that week we hosted several impromptu game nights and play dates with our fabulous neighbors.
Now some people would find living in a neighborhood with people and houses so close to be claustrophobic. And yes of course, some of us do have the misfortune of living near people who are less than pleasant to deal with. In this context though, I’m referring to us all being neighbors living on Capitol Hill. My friends and family back in Pennsylvania always ask me how life in the big city is going, and I always have to take pause, as living on Capitol Hill always feels like a small town.
There have been many occasions where I’ve had a bad day, and the only thing I want to do when I get home is to drown my pain in a bottle of wine. On my way home however, I’ve bumped into a friendly face and that has lifted my spirits, so instead I only drink a ½ bottle of wine. When I day dream of moving someplace new, like say Hawaii to start my cupcake shack, the thing that snaps me out of it is moving to a place where I know no one, and all of the friendly faces being strange.
I think what I’m trying to say as I ramble on about wine, cupcakes, and snow, is that I should be more thankful for having so many wonderful friends just blocks or houses away. That on a rainy Saturday, or a snow-ridden Tuesday, that a person to hang with is really not far at all. Literally.
Wonderful post! I grew up in rural North Carolina near the coast, so getting snowed in was exceedingly rare, but I share your sentiments. We still had no neighbors that could walk over and play, so while we had a huge expanse of yard in which to run around as kids, we only had our siblings to play with unless our parents invited someone over for the day – this years before the “play date” was a thing.
I’ll admit I don’t know many of my neighbors, but there are still many benefits to living in the city that my friends in the suburbs just don’t get. As you said, when we were buried under snow last year, it never seemed a big hassle here. I never lost power or internet, and living just a few blocks from the grocery store, restaurants, and bars, not to mention Frager’s, meant that I didn’t have to worry about running out of essentials or going stir crazy without options. We did end up spending most of that time inside, enjoying movies and big pots of soup, but we also suited up in warm clothes while the snow was still pretty and walked all the way to the Mall to see how beautiful it was, all covered in snow.
I guess it’s understandable that some people still prefer the suburbs, but most of them have never even lived in an urban neighborhood like Capitol Hill. They really just don’t get it, and it’s a shame, because there are lots of reasons like those you mentioned that it is a great experience.
Next time we bring the kailua to the park.
Had i known there was Kailua at the park I would of stayed longer…
I have to say that I’ve been wishing for a snow storm comparable to last winter’s storm because I not only enjoyed the time with my husband, who always works way too much, but I enjoyed the time in our neighborhood without feeling as trapped as our friends and family in the suburbs.
Of course I welcome a break from the cold temps so our trips out of doors can be slightly more enjoyable. Or maybe I’m just never happy with the weather.
Great post, and so much of it feels familiar. As a new mom I find myself being grateful for not being in the burbs most days. Other than the moment when I have to bump bump bump my stroller down my steps and lock it up later. I think I’d be quite loony if I had to get in the car everytime I wanted to see someone…and we’d have to buy a second car!
I grew up in a rural place too, and while dogs weren’t necessary for getting out, 4 wheel drive certainly was. The highlight of the snow was getting in Dad’s truck to sleigh-ride with neighbors and often having candlelight soup suppers with them. I think the snow brings out the best in everyone, aside from the neighbors who were a little too aggressive about putting up cones in “their” parking spaces.
I do look forward to spring when I tend to see my neighbors more. The front porch/stoop culture is a part of the ‘hood I wouldn’t change for the world. Even when the guys with 40’s walk by. They usually say hi if greeted warmly.
What’s the acronym?
@MC: TWTFG = Things We Take For Granted. Sorry that wasn’t caught in the editing process.