Today, or parts of it, reminded me of being a child and growing up near Lake Ontario. Got up, looked outside and assessed the situation. Yep, we got snow and more was falling. Went outside and tended to the animals, about eight inches of snow had fallen overnight, enough on the ground to cover up the manure. I always say that a heavy snowfall is nature’s way of giving me a break, well knowing that I will put in double and triple time on the first day the sun shines.

Pete did not go to Juneau, much to his dismay. As he said, he’d put time into this venture, arranging appointments with legislators and making a plane and a hotel reservation. He also thought some about what he was going to say to those he talked to. Now, I who empathize felt bad for him – until I saw the weather conditions.

I would have had a hard time of it here by myself. He would have been out of here by 8:30 a.m., leaving me to water the horses, stoke the stove, and make my breakfast. And then I would have had to decide whether or not to go in to work today. It was a decision that I didn’t want to make.

I waited until we ate a portion of our breakfast, knowing that then both our blood sugar would have risen; otherwise Pete would have been resistant about my request, which was to take me in to town. I sure was not going to drive in myself, and I didn’t want to stay home.

Pete, given his change of plans, was in an amazingly good mood. He agreed to go with me to town.

We went together in his truck. The roads were somewhat slick, but visibility was good. The snow, by this point in time, was falling even harder.

Now this is the snow day part. I had my math lesson and then packed up some of the boxes that I hope will go to Kenya. Nearby, Lawrence and Pete taught Lydia and Joseph (two volunteers) how to put books on eBay. We were all happy. For me, the fact that it was snowing hard added to my sense that all was right with the world.

And it was nasty out there. I envied Rebecca who works for ALP and said that she was waiting to go home because a part of the Glenn Highway was closed. She surmised that she might have to spend the night at the hotel – I envied her this. I would love to do this. Watch a movie, eat some popcorn, talk about the good old days.

We all called it a day around 4 p.m. The drive home was okay; in fact, it was better than the drive in. I think that, as usual, this storm was like the 24 hour bug – it came and it went fairly quickly. I would not mind us getting a 36 inch storm, this way the snow day would be ongoing.

We all should be so lucky.

Next: 28. 1/28/26: Burning Daylight