I saw the snow outside the window and realized this would probably be the day.
It had started snowing a little bit, nothing too terrible, when I left work the day before, and we had gotten some overnight at my house.
It probably wasn’t more than an inch in either place, but it would be the first chance to find out more about my new commute.
I wasn’t extremely worried about the first half to 60 percent of the trip, since it was mostly on main roads of suburban towns, but I didn’t know what to expect when I made the right turn toward New Hampshire.
It’s a lot of small towns, and a bunch of hills, going north.
I got a little nervous when I first made the turn, because the only clear spots were tire tracks. I could manage it, but it was going to be a tense 20 miles.
Then I approached the sign where I know I’ve crossed into New Hampshire. In that spot, you can see a few hundred yards ahead … and it was perfectly clear, which is how it stayed until I rolled into the parking lot at my office.
It was just one day and nothing more than an inch of snow, but still good to know.
The snow melted quickly, but it was a reminder that we need to shift into winter mode.
To get to that point, however, I had to leave my house first, and that was almost a problem.
That light snow that was on my lawn also coated the driveway, which is a hill with the garage at the bottom.
Back out of the garage … point the car up the hill … and only make it about a third of the way up.
Grab the shovel … try to scrape a path … try again … stall out about two-thirds of the up … push the gas to the floor … turn the steering wheel back and forth to get some traction … keep going … keep going … reach the top of the driveway.
Phew.
I parked at the top of the driveway when I came home that night.
The snow melted quickly, but it was a reminder that we need to shift into winter mode.
What I wrote
I was one of the people Katie asked to tell where they’d like to be this time next year.
“Right now, as I look to what I want to have accomplished when we all reunite in 365 days, I hope I’ll be able to make our efforts to find joy this Christmas season a year-round thing, that whether I have a lot of time or a little, I can make the most of it.”
Stuff I read
A year later, Ferrari has a message for the baby she lost.
“There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t think about the last year and all I’ve had to face. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t remember the pain and dread. But I know that your brother is my blessing. He will grow knowing that he isn’t alone. Luna will make sure of that. Their bond already is perfect and I can’t wait to grow with them both by my side.”
Rosie was living her life … all kinds of busy … just got engaged … and then her appendix decided to go kablooey. (I believe that is a technical medical term.)
“Everyone says it’s such a small easy surgery, so honestly I would hate to see what a serious surgery feels like. I was SO nervous and woke up after feeling like I was hit by a bus.”
Kristian is longing for baseball … the game and (seemingly) the metaphor.
“It’s how I know
my heart belongs
to you.
For much like looking down
at baseball diamonds
from the bleachers,
my heart sees you
and whispers
‘I’m home.’”
Renata watched a Christmas movie for the first time. She had thoughts … 161 of them, to be exact, meaning there were 156 more after this one.
“5. It’s official, this Christmas special has everything – reindeer in the title, a singing dog, and a penguin who sells fake Rolexes..It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”
Pepper is obsessively tracking a Christmas package, which makes for an awesome reminder to put my order in.
“At this point, the item has been in the United States NOT MOVING (travelling 0 miles), a heckuva lot longer than it took to leave and travel here from China (8,000+ miles).”
Lindsay would like Boris Johnson to close the schools early for Christmas, and she’s taking her request to the top as only she can.
“Think on Boris. The Queen is rewarding us for putting up with her face on a stamp for 70 years. Surely we deserve something for having watched you day in, day out, bumbling and guffawing your way through the daily figures in the briefing room during every single lockdown.”
Pea Green’s older boy is now 10.
“We’ve long since forgiven (if not forgotten) the vomit filled moses basket, the mustardy poo explosions, the refusal to sleep, and the picky eater toddler.
In their place, the pride we feel for the young man that he’s growing into is immeasurable.”
As she gets used to living on her own, Becky has had to learn some things from the usual sources: Mom, Dad, Google. (No YouTube yet. Maybe that’s next.)
“Can aluminum foil catch fire in the oven?
It was my first time baking something in the oven that needed to be covered with foil and just wanted to double-check to make sure it wouldn’t catch on fire.”
Savannah wants to lean into the good stuff in the next year.
“I have a good, good life. I live in a beautiful place, have a wonderful family, and have stability in so many different ways. To be honest, I have so many of the things I always dreamed of. And more.
I want to take advantage of the opportunities around me, and always remember to pause and remember how great things truly are.”
Graham shares some of the “hate” of his love/hate relationship with winter, which is one emotion too many.
“Having to scrape frost or ice off the car in the morningsis something I really can’t stand. I should expect it really, but every time I open the front door and discover that icy covering on the windows of the car, I’m surprised. My heart sinks. It’s hard enough getting out of the house on those freezing cold, dark Winter mornings, but then to be greeted by frost or ice is just a step too far.”
Giggles is expecting things to be slightly crazy at work.
“As anyone who is a parent would know, December is a very exciting time for children. Now, blend that with trying to teach a bunch of exceptional students and basically you have a dumpster fire that is careening down a hill towards a paper mill.”
Jeff and the gang at 30-Second Read have shown time and time again that you can tell an interesting story in just 180 words … also known as “the number of words it takes me to get warmed up.”
“Since the Read’s resurrection, we’ve published every second day with few interruptions, each essay with exactly 180 words.
If you’re counting, that’s 54,000 words total – equivalent to a shortish novel requiring, if you’re bored and half nuts, about two-and-a-half hours to read.”
Austin’s favorite detective isn’t having any fun.
“Bruno hated wasting another day of his long holiday weekend chasing down his neighbor’s missing Christmas ornament, but he really had no other choice.
He had hoped that when he tracked down the skateboard punk in question, that would be the end of things, but as was his luck, finding that suspect had only opened a Pandora’s Box that had immediately devoured his time off.”
Vee told a guy he was “pathetic” on LinkedIn.
He hired her.
“When Chris introduced me to the rest of the company he told everyone the story about how I called him pathetic on LinkedIn and that he decided right then and there that first day we spoke he wanted me to join the team, but that it took him a few months to convince me it was worth taking the leap of faith.
It was all very… nice.”
Michelle tells the story of how she got a car because someone drove into a tree.
“When my dad saw that car, well what was left of it, he said that from now on I was to drive with our other car, a Camry. It was quite an old model—the Toyota Camry model that is the sponsor of, ‘well, I’ve given up on life’. However, it was quite an upgrade for me. It had air-conditioning and power steering, and great suspension. Such a luxury! Of course, it was safer as well.”
Tweets I liked
I enjoy Christmas. If it were every day, it would no longer feel important … or it would melt my brain.
The start of a long and wondrous journey through that part of life.
Or a 7-year-old thing you can just smile at. One or the other.
“You think you’re chill, but really you’re just a chaotic dumpster fire.”
Fair
Or they could have just bagged that day’s recording session and spent the afternoon playing snooker.
A Silly Place 
According to that personality chart, I think I’m top dog but really jusr a blunt child?
Well then….
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“You think you’re top dog, but really you’re just an over-intellectual oversharer.”
Coming after me in broad daylight this morning, are we? 🤣 Also, wouldn’t it be “overly intellectual?” 🤔
Either way, thanks for sharing, Bill!
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Hey, it’s just what the chart says. As if I enjoy being a “chaotic dumpster fire.” LOL
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Great post. I don’t envy your commute.
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Thanks for the shout out! Yeah, YouTube is definitely next 😅
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