Back in the 1970’s in Queens Village we looked soooo forward to having a snow day. A snowy, cold day off from school was glorious. If it was snowing even a little we’d get up early and listen to the radio, hoping for those fateful 5am words, “All New York City Schools are closed today.” We never found out the night before, never got a phone call; we had to wait till the morning of for the joyful news. We’d snuggle back under the covers as our parents trudged off to work; no snow days for them. Sometimes we would take all the blankets and make a tunnel of blankets to crawl around in the bedroom. Eventually we would emerge to hunt for food. Mammy would make savory sandwiches for our breakfast (at least 7) and put them back in the sleeve of the plastic bread bag to hold till we were ready to eat. Sometimes she would bring the bag up to our room before she left for work and toss them on our bed like we were chickens. Yum, breakfast in bed, my favorite was the soggy tunafish sandwiches on white bread. Such luxury. I can still remember the mayonnaisy taste and the smooshy bread plastered to the roof of my mouth. Those days will never come again.
I can’t help but reflect on all the snow days with my kids. I hope they cherish the memories of shoveling, snowmen, and hot chocolate; well maybe not so much the snow shoveling. I still have the red metal and wood sleigh in the garage that was used to drag them around on the streets. Later, when the wet clothes were draped all over the living and dining rooms, we would make hambone soup with creatively shaped, little hands rolled dumplings. Snow days are perfect family days.
Today I have a snow day. It’s still a term that can’t be whispered. Early yesterday afternoon the NYC Board of Education announced that NYC schools will have a virtual school day today. Here on Long Island I received an email at 6pm last night from the Superintendent of Schools advising of our school closure due to the inclement weather today – very civilized but at least no fun sucking virtual school day and, more important, no less joyful than 1975. I sleep in, stay in my pajamas and have a crockpot stew going. I didn’t make a tuna sandwich because nothing would measure up to that long ago memory, but I did have a luxurious two fried eggs with salt, lots of black pepper and ketchup on a roll for a late breakfast. This may be my last snow day EVER as I retire soon, so I am enjoying it immensely. I am grateful for a career where I have been granted 20 years of yaaaay snow day! Yes, I will probably have to go out later to shovel and clean off my car but, if I time it right and delay getting dressed long enough, Rich may have taken care of all of if before I pretend to go outside to help.
unbecomingjane 