hunkering down

you'd think new englanders might have a cavalier attitude about snow...but most don't. this morning our schools never opened, even though there's was nary an inch of snow on the ground. the local library announced yesterday they would not be opening at all today. our governor is urging businesses to shut down early and asks that motorists be off the roads before dark. this in anticipation of an impending storm that will soon descend on the area with high winds and snow. a lot of snow. it'll be good for skiing and snowmobiling, they say. tourists will come. it will guard against drought this summer. all this is true - and so far, it's been a beautiful storm. but i can't help remembering a weather event thirty years ago that left us powerless for a week and housebound for three. i do hope it doesn't come to that. so while i wait for the storm to intensify, i'll drink my tea and read my book and wander from window to window, hoping that i'm prepared for what's to come.