Quill Pond Meditations: Bob Newhart and Blazzing Fires in Winter

Roaring Fire in the Fireplace

The Bob Newhart TV Show is on in the bedroom above me.

Bob Newhart had such a sharp, cutting Edge humor.

Snow and more snow....We now are #8 in the history books under the subject most snow totals in Boston. We are 24 miles from Boston...we were dead center of the last two weeks of storms. We received more snow that Boston. Today we got 2 feet, but, the last 2 weeks my in house weather reporter has advised that we got over 80 in total. "Yes, that is a lot...." my in house weather reporter advised me.

Tonight was to be David's famous cabin fever dinner party. Not only was he going to cook one of Tender Crop's home grown, home baked pork pie; but, he also was coming to pick us up in front of our house. He roasted some turnips that sounded delicious and in the oven, he was all set to put the handmade shortbread in the oven.

The only problem was that our long driveway had 2-3 feet of snow on it. Our two cars were parked at the street end of the driveway. The cars were also snowed in. The "plow" bump at end of the driveway was about four feet high. I called to say that I was debating if I should come. I had hurt my knee-maybe a tear in the old meniscus. Wendy told me that David had been preparing this party dinner all day and that they would not talk to me until June if I did not attend. My decision was quick, I told her we were on our way down the driveway to meet David's car pickup service. It was a trek down to the cars, and at the cars, we were in a snow drift that had my car on one side and the brushes on the other side. WE had about 1 1/2 feet to maneuver. The Snow Plow Bump without snow shoes or poles was more of a challenge. I landed backwards into the area of my day lilly bed. It took Glenn a few long reaches to crank me out of the garden/snow bed.

But we now were on the street waiting for David. As usual, I had a hat, scarf, gloves, down coat w/ hood w/ fake fur. Glenn had no hat, a short jacket, light pants. We both had our rubber boats on. I wore fleece long socks on my feet...I have no idea what type of socks wore or if he wore any thing on his feet.

We waited. The wind off Quill Pond blew fresh waves of snow in our faces. It was snowing at what I would say with a kick on its heels. We waited. After 15minutes, I noted Glenn was freezing. I gave him my hat and pulled on my hood. We waited. Finally, we gave up. Glenn reached the house in record time; he really must have been cold. I plowed away and by the time I got to the front door, I could hear David's voice on our answering machine. His car got stuck sideways in his driveway and that he was walking down. Very soon after that, David arrived looking like a homeless person and being soaking wet. We dried him off, offered him tea, chocolate or water. He was serious about sitting for a minute and them walking home slower( it was dark now). Called and verified he was on his way home. I turned on my oven and started to reheat last night's potted chicken,rice and asparagus (fresh).
It was the dinner party that was not to be.

I always wondered what hurricane parties were like. Snow bound with a real western man from Colorado sounded so good and so much fun. Especially since we have been penned up for the most of two weeks, with a hour here or there out for good behavior when we had two breaks in the snow fall.

This winter with no plow coming, and Glenn shoveling the driveway adds a level of stress to the retirement of himself just two months ago.

Tension plain tension. He questions me "Why am I always on the coach napping". "What's for dinner? What's for breakfast? What's for lunch? I love him with my entire heart. 24/7 these last two weeks have been stressful. I have to admit that.

Not swimming-cause I am not getting out of the house. I lost track of who many school days have been canceled. Tonight, the Governor shut down the MBTA because they could not handle all the snow on the rails, trails, and trollies. This is the 21st Century and Boston still has trollies. Ha, and they want to get the Olympic to come to Boston. Are they out of their minds?

I can calm myself so much easier, in the three other seasons. I can go outside, breath air in and out, and I can be with nature.