Snow job!

Snow is beautiful when you're looking at it from the inside out.

Right now, we have just over 15 inches of snow - certainly not as bad as some areas of the country. And, it really is quite beautiful when it's fresh and clean like it is right now.

I was planning to go the temple on Friday for my first day back. I actually had everything ready to go when I turned on the news Thursday evening. The weather report guided me into another decision. I stayed home yet another day and watched as the day grew darker and darker and the snow began pouring down. I had a hot dinner waiting on Mr. Kerry and we hunkered down for the night. I felt really bad for him having to get out in it the next day, for I know it's hard on him. He has always said after a day of walking in deep snow his legs are really tired. It's like walking in a swimming pool all day.

But, not for long. Mr. Kerry will retire the first week in April after delivering mail for 30 years!

My glasses came in this week - trifocals! I went for so long without having to have new ones, for my prescription didn't change. Boy, did my eyeballs get old quick!

I am now able to go many places without having to use my cane for every step, though I still keep it close by. I had lunch on Monday with some friends from church, and I think they were a bit nervous seeing me walking without it. But, I assured them that I'm doing better. They still kept watching me, though. I have x-rays and a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I'm not sure when they will start physical therapy.

It is now going on seven weeks since the week of Peter's death, my surgery and Christmas. In some ways it seems like ages ago - in some ways it seems like yesterday. If you'll remember, Kerry and Jordan made a marathon trip to Florida to pick up Peter's belongings when I was in the hospital. Everything he owned basically fit into one suitcase and a couple of boxes. They sat in the hallway for a few days before Kerry took them to the basement. I just couldn't bring myself to go through them.

When I was in the basement this week, I thought I might try. I unzipped the suitcase and lifted the lid. Almost as quickly, I had to close it. Peter's scent came wafting out. All of us have a scent - when Kerry leaves in the morning I roll over and can still smell where he has lain.

I just can't bring myself to go through his things yet. I will - just not yet.

When Kerry's sister, Content, was with us following the memorial service, she brought us a BEAUTIFUL statue that we could enjoy and remember Peter by. It's entitled "In The Arms of His Love". I'm telling you, I love this statue. Each time I pass by it, I'm reminded of him - and her.

Isn't it beautiful?

In today's newspaper, another one of my missives appeared in the "Opinion Shapers" column. If you would like to read it, here it is...
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20100207/OPINION02/2070304/Opinion-Shapers-Staying-grateful-through-tragedy

And, I made yet another error in last week's birthdays. I mentioned that it was Isaac Lauritzen's birthday this month. Wrong. It's little Isaac Maxwell's! Thank you to those who brought that to my attention. I don't mind at all.

Stay warm this week. There's another storm coming Tuesday!

Love,
Miss P

Things I Learned in the South
A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.




There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in the South.




There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 of them live in the South, plus a couple no one’s seen before.




If it grows, it’ll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.




‘Onced’ and ‘Twiced’ are words.




It is not a shopping cart, it is a buggy!




‘Jaw-P’? means ‘Did ya’ll go to the bathroom’?




People actually grow and eat okra.




‘Fixinto’ is one word. It means ‘I’m fixing to do that’.




There is no such thing as ‘lunch’. There is only dinner and then there is supper.




Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.




Backwards and forwards means ‘I know everything about you’.




The word ‘jeet’ is actually a phrase meaning ‘Did you eat?




You don’t have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is, you work until you’re done or it’s too dark to see.




You don’t PUSH buttons, you MASH ‘em.




‘No, Jew?’ is a common response to the question, ‘Did you bring any beer?’




You measure distance in minutes.




You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.




All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect, or animal.




You know what a ‘DAWG’ is.




You carry jumper cables in your car - for your OWN car.




You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Tony’s, Tabasco and ketchup.




The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local high school sports and motor sports, and gossip.




You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.




You find 100 degrees Fahrenheit ‘a bit warm’.




You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.




Going to Wal-Mart is a favorite pastime known as ‘goin’ Wal-Martin’ or ‘off to Wally World’.




You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good chicken stew weather.




Fried catfish is the other white meat.




We don't need no dang Driver's Ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive dag-nabbit.




You understand these jokes and forward them to your Southern friends and those who just wish they were from the SOUTH.