6 Ways Not to Slip Up in Snowy Weather (and Have Fun)
There are many ways to stay safe and have fun during the winter, but your brother doesn't look at it the same way as you do. For one, you don't understand the time he spent arguing with the salty fans of Novak Djokovic. (And Rafael Nadal's second Australian Open title would make him the G.O.A.T at the moment. It would trigger some Djokovic fans.) He also couldn't move on from "F9", which was released last summer. But it seemed like ages ago. Winter is your favorite season because the wintry landscape brings out your creative juice (and it keeps flowing). It changed last year, but you wanted to recapture those childhood moments. How?
The previous winter wasn't forgettable at all, as you accepted your coursemate's challenge to read as many books as you could (during the winter). And you would list your thoughts on social media. Your mate accused you of not exploring as many literary genres as he did, but you didn't bulge (or apologize at all). Coursework was your priority, but the reading list overwhelmed you on a few occasions. And you welcomed any book that wasn't included in the reading list. "Dragon Pearl" was one of your recommended titles, about an insolent girl who traveled through several galaxies to find her brother. Yoon Ha Lee's episodic treatment didn't distract you at all. On the contrary, it kept you hooked to the storyline. There was a fusion of Korean mythology, which piqued your curiosity. (Why wasn't the fox included in the Chinese zodiac?) You were clueless about Asian literature until your cousin traveled to that part of the world. (Her visit would be incomplete without dropping by the book shop.) It took her a day to read "Dragon Pearl" in its entirety, as she liked a female character starring in an intergalactic saga. She was hoping that a Hollywood studio wouldn't adopt it to the big screen. Spring passed without fanfare. And then the blockbuster season.
Your parents look at your brother in disbelief while he pointed out the upside of watching "F9". It defied Isaac Newton's Law of Gravity. He yearned for Scotland after watching the heart-thumping car chase scenes in the (narrow) streets of Edinburgh. And Dominic Toretto and the gang looked like superheroes. (Roman Pearce, played by Tyrese Gibson, pondered about existentialism. Your brother almost laughed out loud.) He asked you to imagine a "rocket car" orbiting the Earth, but you couldn't. And you don't want to hear the details of another sequel. You wished for a longer (wintry) season, but your mother didn't like it. (Her sister resides in Texas. Her family was affected by the late snowstorm.) You couldn't help it, though.
Stay Safe and Distract Yourself
Charge your cellphone. Your brother didn't figure out your obsession with keeping your cellphone fully charged during the winter. You love the cold, but you don't want to be stuck in a snowdrift. And you can't tweet about it.
Please feed the birds. It may be a reference to PL Travers's "Mary Poppins", where a barely-old infant could talk to the birds, but it wouldn't be the case. The pandemic gave you the chance to spend more time bird watching, and how these freezing feathered friends would need leftovers such as grated cheese, soft fruit, and cooked potatoes. You included unsalted bacon, which your mother didn't like at all. (She is keeping a sharp eye on your budget.)
Build a (humanoid) snowman. You became hooked to science-fiction movies from the 1950s, and it inspired you to spend five hours sculpting a lumpy figure of a humanoid snowman. You were proud of your hard work until your brother asked you about the missing carrot (as the nose).
Going sledding. You wanted to transport yourself back to your childhood, and (childhood) memories of sledding excited you. Your mother warned you not to hurtle down an icy hill, though. Your brother wondered if sledding was a nocturnal activity, a thought that made you look at him in a strange way.
Grit that path. You expected your postman to thank you after applying table salt, but he didn't. You were thinking of cat litter, but Maldon Sea Salt came to mind. Your father gave you a blank expression.
Drive safely. Your father appreciated your mindfulness, as you put a blanket and chocolate bars inside the car. It would be an emergency kit, but you were thankful that a blizzard didn't hit your area. Yet.
How Much Snow Fell in Your Area?
Your area received 20 inches of snow while your coursemate's got 30 inches. Your uncle recounted a "bomb cyclone" of a winter storm that barraged much of Massachusetts. It prompted your old buddy to ask you what books to read while waiting out the snowy season. You were looking for a book of essays, like a collection (of essays) by Ralph Waldo Emerson after reading an inspiring quote by William Wordsworth ("Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.").
You couldn't find one, so you did a Google search on books about decluttering. How about "Goodbye, Things"? You looked at some items that you became attached to. You decided to wait out until Easter. And then your buddy called you (again). He was saddened by Tom Brady's retirement.
