Long ago, I would listen intently to the radio as the list of closures were read. Our local station would switch off readers as the list was long and frankly, it must have been a boring read! I remember leaning into the radio as if being closer would make my wish come true! I also remember the snow day sponsor, Cream of Wheat, not my favorite; yet if it got me a coveted snow day filled with sledding and I love Lucy reruns, I would eat at least some of it. 
Later, I would lie in bed waiting for the snow chain calls that would inevitably arrive the moment I stepped into the shower! I would arrive at the phone leaving a trail of water behind me to make that follow up call while freezing in a too small towel. As I excitedly dried off, the potential of a day to clean the refrigerator and closets loomed ahead as I used that early morning call to catch up with a friend and start coveted weekday muffins.
In the years when my commute was long and cell phones carried the message, I was often navigating messy roads and following snow plows when the text came. I would try to find a place to turn around and make the long and often dangerous trip back home. One time, I left at 6 and never made it back home until 3! What a "snow day".
These days, a snow day is very different! After the official text arrives, the draw of a disorganized closet and the potential to work on a quilt still looms. The desire for a pot of hot soup is real. The memories of smiles and snow day victories are strong; however, snowy days are just Zoom days, these days, for me!
I do realize that snow days are a #**^ for many parents throughout time and that I was lucky to enjoy snow days for so long. But, I will always remember the potential and joy of a that gift from Superintendents who had been up for hours struggling with the decision.
Yet, for all those students and teachers who still get snow days, I continue to wear my pajamas backwards and put a spoon under my pillow. It's what I can do in thanks for or so many snow days, filled with potential.
I'm participating in the March Slice of Life Challenge sponsored by Two Writing Teachers. https://twowritingteachers.org/2023/03/02/day-2-of-the-march-solsc-sol23/
3 comments:
I remember all these ways of getting notified about snow days. Our district has had several closures this year but doesn’t require Zoom teaching on those days. At least they’re preserving some of the snow day joy!
My feelings about snow days changes as I aged. As a kid I looked forward to them because it would mean a day outside playing out in the snow, sledding down a hill, snowball fights, etc.
As a teacher it would mean a day that would need to be made up cutting into a vacation or extending the school year. I retired well before zoom came into being.
We have had NO SNOW this winter and I have sorely missed it! You're so right about the pull of hot soup (sounds good right now, in fact). Last year when we had a couple of snow-closings, the district basically gave us the day - no virtual classes, no teleworking. It was an astounding gift, if not a straight-up miracle. So enjoyed this post.
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