One Childhood Snow Day Memory
Every Wednesday, Kat Bouska author of Mama’s Losin’ It posts six questions prompting her readers to choose, create, and link up with her near-world famous writing workshop. I’m going to cross off writing about recent purchases since that’s something I shared recently as well as the last time I fell down. This week, I’m going with #1 Describe what snow days were like when you were a child. What made them memorable?
Snow Day? What’s that? Honestly, when I was a kid we didn’t have ‘Snow Days’. Seriously, that’s true. I don’t ever remember our school closing the door because of snowy weather. Heck, we prayed that the snowplow and salt truck would break down but that’s one thing you could count on working well in southern West Virginia. These vehicles kept the roads passable. Traffic moved slowly but it went and if the school buses had an issue they’d strap the chains to the wheels for a bump, bumpity ride.
What I do remember about those early years is how much I loved playing in the snow. I had no problem being outdoors for what seemed like hours. There were times when the snow was not only deep but wet which made for the best kind of snowballs and snowman making. My best friends Anita, Robbie, and I would tramp around in the powder until we couldn’t lift our legs anymore or until our half-frozen toes and fingers couldn’t take it anymore, then we’d retreat to our perspective homes to thaw out. That kind of play left me totally exhausted and at bedtime, I climbed under the covers like a bear ready for hibernation. It was the best kind of sleep ever! If I was lucky then my friends and I got to repeat the same activities the next day if it were on the weekend, otherwise, we’d be in school. We loved to play in cold and snow but to walk to the bus stop to wait was met with dragging feet and complaints the entire time.
I’m thankful for the weather this week. It’s been spring-like with temps in the upper 60s and low 70s. It’s mostly gray and rainy but warm. I’ll take the mild temperatures over the cold any day.
I’m thankful for finding a new rhythm in my day striking the right balance between blogging and everyday life while enjoying other creative outlets such as sketching.
I’m thankful for the basics of life – my home, daily meals, and clothing. Everything I am given above these necessities I consider myself extra blessed.
Finally, I’m thankful for my family and good friends which include each person I’ve come to cherish in Blogosphere.
What am I thankful for today?
I’m joining Thankful Thursday and Ten Things of Thankful. What are you thankful for this Thursday?
I hope you’ll come back tomorrow for jammed pack fun post filled with humor, fill-ins, & another to learn who the winner is in last week’s BoTB in my Friday Fun Stuff edition!
X💋X💋, Cathy
26 Comments
Patty
After I read your post I thought back to my own school days and how we never really had “snow days” as well..not even any delays. Especially not when you went to Catholic school.
We definitely had some significant snowfalls here in New York, at least by a child’s definition, but we were dressed like mummies in our snowsuits and boots and made our way to school, in between the piles of cleared snow on the sidewalks. I remember my mother putting plastic bags over my feet before stuffing said feet into those clumsy rubber boots.
Memories of playing outside for hours, being soaked to the skin and cold but enduring it for once back inside the house, you weren’t going out again.
And how the times have changed. Kids walking to school without smart phones in hand and having no fear of anyone seeking to hurt them…just other kids pelting them with snowballs on the way to school and home again.
I laughed to myself just now as I hit the remote start button for my car and realized I never turned the radio down yesterday. At least the heat is on…full blast…for when I head out the door for an appointment.
Times definitely have changed.
Cathy Kennedy
Patty,
Indeed times have changed. Sometimes for the good but mostly not-so-much. I dare say y’all got a heap more snow than we did in southern WV. I remember my grandpa telling me stories of how when he was a young man the snow would come to his waist. I never knew for sure if what he was saying is the truth as he liked to spin some tales or that’s the way it seemed to me but it didn’t matter because I loved hearing his stories. I secretly wished that we would get that kind of snowfalls but never did. lol Kids are super pampered and spoiled today. They might not see it as such but they are with everything made so easy for them. Of course, I’m tickled to pieces to have the modern conveniences that we do but I’d sure love to see kids outdoors more to enjoy a little bit of what we grew up lovin’! You know I forgot all about my mom insisting on putting my feet inside bread bags before putting my boots on. We’d get so bundled up to play outdoors that we felt like Ralphie’s little brother from ‘A Christmas Story’. Thanks for sharing in my memories. 🙂
Kim
I grew up in Mississippi, and snow was pretty rare there. So just like now with snow here in Alabama, I would get so, SO excited because everything would shut down except for retail, fast food, and emergency services. School would turn out early, for even a few inches. My parents would come home from work (after an entire day, if they could stay that long), and we’d have hot meals after the cousins, neighborhood friends, and I would play in the snow until dark, freezing, or exhaustion. My grandparents made snow cream. My snow day memories really are fond ones!
Cathy Kennedy
Kim,
Well, you’re in my neighborhood practically living in Alabama. lol We made snow cream on occasions growing up but I remember the great fun we had doing this with our kids. It’s been years since we’ve had enough snow to do that, too. Oh, what fun memories! Thanks for sharing them with me by telling me your own. 🙂
madamdreamweaver
I grew up in Indiana, in about the middle, about 50 miles southwest of Indianapolis, during the 60’s and 70’s. There were only snow days if it fell like on Sunday night with enough accumulation inches to make the country roads impassible. (like 6 to 10 inches and that was relatively rare) and snowplows hadn’t had time to clear the roads. If there was adequate time for the plows to clear the roads or if it was only 2 or 3 inches accumulation, we went to school and Dad drove to work in Indianapolis. Back then, as plows were out fast as soon as accumulation started and would run all night clearing roads and laying down rock salt. We lived on a state road so it had more priority then minor back roads. I can’t remember being out of school for snow more then 3 or 4 times during my whole school life (first to 12th grade)
Now here in Florida, where I live now, they don’t have snowplows or road salt and completely shut down everything if it’s cold enough to freeze the overpasses, which is extremely rare. It did happen about 3 years ago—with a freezing rain and temps of -17F. Everything got covered in ice. Things were shut down for driving anyplace for 2 days.
Cathy Kennedy
Northern states are better equipped to deal with the winter storms than those further south. Knoxville isn’t too far south but far enough that road crews aren’t nearly as prepared for dealing with horrific acts of Mother Nature artic blasts. We get more ice than snow here in the valley and nothing goes in that stuff. It really cripples the city. In the past, I got strained twice in ice storms. Once while attending college and then as a young career gal. The first time DH rescued me as I was riding home with a friend but the second time it was I who was on my way to pick him up at work when I got trapped on the interstate for five hours before I was able to reach him. That was so horrible! Let’s hope neither of us has to worry about those kinds of woes again.
-Eugenia
Being born and raised in Florida, we had hurricane days. Winds exceeding 75 mph were the deciding factor to close schools. Then, I moved to New Jersey, and yes there were snow days but I was an adult so it didn’t matter.
Living in the metro Atlanta area is delightful for me. We experience 4 seasons and most of the time, the weather is mild. With that said, the weather has become very inconsistent in the last few years. Yesterday, we had spring like temps and today winter has returned. Good grief!
Cathy Kennedy
Eugenia,
Holy Smoke, 75mph winds! That would carry me away to Kansas. 🙂 We’re under a cold spell today, too. The spring-like temps of this week just spoiled us and now we have to deal with the cooler conditions. Next week it’ll warm up again but not as warm as it has been, though. I’m ready for spring to get here. Come on, baby, my arms are open wide to you!!
-Eugenia
Me too! I’m ready for spring flowers, and green trees, and etc., etc.
Kat
We get maybe one or two snow days a year and EVERYTHING closes. lol! You all know how to handle your snow days!
Cathy Kennedy
Kat,
Southern WV knew how to deal with the snowfalls but not so much in Knoxville TN where we’ve lived for nearly 40 years. Thankfully, we don’t get much here but any mention of snow or ice and the road crew treats the road. A lot of times it’s an overkill and that bothers me because there will come a time when the city will really need it and probably will run out. They rely on the help of Mother Nature to take care of secondary roads which is laughable that is if I felt like laughing when I was told that several years ago. It wasn’t remotely funny at the time.
15andmeowing
Nice memories. I have always loved snow and snow days 🙂
Cathy Kennedy
Ellen,
I like to look at snow from a distance now. It’s pretty but I’m happy that we don’t see much of it in Knoxville.
messymimi's meanderings
Since we have no plows and snow is very rare, if it happens they have to call off school. It never happened when i was a kid that i can remember, but we got time off for September or October hurricanes.
Your list of thankful things made me smile. Yes, with food and raiment let us be content.
Cathy Kennedy
Mimi,
Hurricane season has to be rough, especially when it requires having to evacuate your home. The snow/ice is horrible but if we’re lucky enough we can ride it out from the comfort of our homes.
sandy
I enjoyed reading your memories of snowy days and snow days from school. I grew up near Kansas City, KS and have many great memories of that . Anyway – love your thankful list and enjoyed the post.
Cathy Kennedy
Sandy,
I’m thankful for fun childhood memories but I often think about our children’s childhood which always makes me happy. You grew up in a place that probably had its share of snowfalls, too. I have an aunt who’s lived in Kansas for a long, long time now. Her husband is a farmer. That’s hard work!
catscue
Love your ‘thankfuls’ and the darling kitten! I’m thankful you posted today and made me smile.
Cathy Kennedy
The kitty is cute and I knew it would make the purrfect TT meme button for my blog. 🙂
Sandee
What wonderful thankfuls. I’m thankful for many of those same things. Our school never closed due to snow although we didn’t have a lot of snow. My childhood was not a happy place for me so I don’t dwell on that part of my life. I’m rocking it now though and that’s a good thing.
Have a fabulous Thankful Thursday. Big hug and lots of love. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
Sometimes I miss those snowfalls from my childhood but I generally get over that feeling fast. I hate cold weather! I’m glad you’re rockin’ things now. Not everyone is blessed with a happy childhood but you’ve moved on and are happy now. That’s what is important getting on with your life instead of allowing it to define who you are and to hold you down. Good for you!
John Holton
We didn’t have snow days, either, and we walked to and from school (about a mile each way). Sometimes we’d hitch a ride with Mom if we were ready by the time she left for school, but we nearly always walked home. One especially bad day my biology teacher saw me walking and drove me home (she didn’t live far from me), but other than that, neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night (nor -20 windchill) kept us from going to school. There were four “snow days” on the calendar every year, but they always ended up being holidays.
Cathy Kennedy
John,
My early years of grade school (grades 1-4), I walked to school because it was close to our home. They consolidated the schools when I entered grade 5 and we had to take a bus. It was more than a mile from home. I wasn’t sure how far until I checked on Google Maps just now which says it’s 2 miles one-way. When I was older I do recall walking home from school on occasion when I had after-school things to do but I didn’t like doing that often because frankly, it was a bit scary to do alone. That’s really not a safe idea for any kid to do my his/herself but especially a young, small girl. We lived in a pretty trusting community but still bad things happen. I remember going to the bus stop with snow on the ground, bitter temperatures, and rough winds. It was not pleasant but I survived. Walking in windchill temperatures you described is dangerous. Do you ever think back and think the ‘fat’ kids of yesterday really weren’t so fat compared to today kids? I do and there’s a reason, the heavier kids from our childhood were more active than they are today. I’m really concerned about the low activity levels of kids and adults nowadays. It’s not healthy.
John Holton
People are afraid to let their kids walk anywhere these days, although I’m near a couple of high schools and we see kids walking to school every day. Our subdivision is apparently host to several high school cross-country teams, so we always have groups of them running through the neighborhood after school.
Cathy Kennedy
John,
I get parents’ apprehension to allow kids to walk anywhere. The world isn’t nearly as safe as it used to be. I think if kids even adults should walk together in pairs. This keeps bad people from turning a lone person into a victim and hopefully, the other person is there to help if an accident happens. I’m amazed at the number of women who do things alone in remote places and they think they can take care of themselves or their animal will protect them. Sadly, some women become victims of their circumstances, even their own animals turning on them. There is a high school about a mile from the house and when the weather is nice, the kids run through the neighborhood. The only problem with this is, vehicles go faster than they should in residential areas and drivers underestimate their ability to react quick enough should a kid wonder out or falls in front of them. Drivers zip past and never leave enough space between them and the pedistrians. It’s a recipe for disaster! I don’t know if parents are even teaching kids to watch out for themselves sometimes and to never assume a driver is going to stop just because you see them. Walking is a great, great exercise. It’s a shame how things have evolved with mindlessness for safety and mobile device distractions causing injuries that likely could’ve been avoided had people paid attention.
Brian
Our Dad says he never had snow days either and had big snow boots to walk to school. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!