I would have sworn that I have written a post since returning home. Apparently not.
Well, we got in late Friday night, around 10pm. The weather reports warned of snow and we wanted to get beyond the passes before it hit. We stopped to eat in Medford, Oregon and as we were leaving it started to flurry. Apparently our area – Seattle-ish, is experiencing its coldest winter in 20 years. I have to say that in the past 10 years I’ve lived here, I’ve never experienced a winter as cold. It’s snowed before of course, but it’s always warmed up and melted in a couple days. Last year there was a lot of snow though. Obviously the weather is changing.
Anyhoo. It’s so nice to be home. It’s so nice to not have to walk the dogs for potty breaks every four hours. It’s so nice to sleep in my own bed. It’s so nice to be near my chiropractor (my back went out two days ago). It’s so nice to not hear garage doors opening and closing randomly throughout the day and night beneath me. It’s so nice to be so near to friends.
It’s also been a little odd too though. I drove through Poulsbo today, on my way to my massage appointment and the dealerships that line the way were empty. When we went into Silverdale a couple of times, once even to Costco, we were surprised that it wasn’t overwhelmingly busy. Usually during Christmas season, well, November 1st through the end of the year really, we don’t drive into Silverdale if we can help it. It’s usually packed with angry or frustrated or tired or rushed drivers and shoppers. Not this year.
I think there’s some definite shifting going on. People are shifting on the outside (spending for example) and on the inside (reflection and personal growth for example). Granted, for the most part it’s out of necessity. Our backs are up against the wall in almost every aspect of life. people are losing their jobs, their homes, their savings. People can’t pay for necessary medical treatments. People are making extreme decisions that they never thought they’d have to make. But even when pushed up against the wall, Love wins. Compassion wins. We’ll all make it through this and while I’m not normally a betting person, I’d bet on this: that we’ll be better for it in the long run. I’m betting that people will step up to the plate. That those who have will give and those who don’t have will still give what they can. I’m betting we’ll revert from our isolationist tendencies and become more community minded again. We have to. Or we won’t survive this. But we can survive this.
I’m very glad to be home in light of, not in spite of, these changes, these signs of the time. Come the New Year, it’ll be time to get to work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In knitting news:
I’ve started another pair of Uptown Boot Socks for my Aunt Marge using Fleece Artist Merino Sock 2/6 in Mahogany. The colors are gorgeous. Soon I’ll be starting another Tuscany for my Aunt Janelle using Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in Denim. I have a sweater I want to knit (Oblique) and two bags (Berroco’s Lorraine and the Doctor’s Bag from Knit Two Together). Pictures to come.
Those things that you are betting on about our society: I agree with you, people will pull together. Deep inside it seems to me that the Almighty is putting all of us through a “refocus period”. Of course our excessive over the top selfishness sped us along to this point too! It’s like grabbing the bed sheet and whipping it in order to get the wrinkles out and lay flat again. We’re the bedsheet and we are getting whipped back into shape. The longer we the people resist, the longer this “refocus period” will take. We are glad you are home safe and sound. Like Judy Garland said in “33, “There’s no place like home”. Todo likes it too, I mean Toby ‘n Boo!
Hugs
We are snowed in this morning! I didn’t think it would happen that quick. I have been out and about too, and noticed how few crowds there were out. Did you notice the quiet? I couldn’t believe how quiet it is here compared to San Diego, I didn’t even notice how used to the noise I was becoming.
I think you are right about communities pulling together. I have seen it so far this morning. My downstairs neighbor is sitting at the bottom of the hill (and has been for the last hour and a half) warning people about the treacherous conditions, volunteering to push people’s cars out of the snow, and just generally being a nice guy! Good thing the guy likes snow.
While I was inching my way out to take the Mr. to the ferry, I noticed another neighbor getting out his tow ropes to pull the first guys car off the hill and out of the wreck he was in. So good karma all around.
Warm puppy snuggles and lots of hot chocolate to you and yours
It has been very quiet. Even with the mall parking lots brimming with cars…there’s always a parking spot. This was so not the case last year.
And it’s snowing in metro-seattle and we are so stuck. I’m about to call in sick…call in snow? myself.
Welcome back! Keep warm!