Along the Edge

As predicted, it snowed this morning in Northern Virginia. Not a threatening, nuisance kind of snow – just clusters of flakes gathering on the forsythia for a moment, then gone in a blink. I had to laugh though, because just yesterday, my snowmen went down for their long summer’s nap.

That was this morning.

This afternoon, despite (ok, because of) the local news coverage of sunshine, yet disappointingly low temperatures on Cherry Blossom Festival weekend, Hubsy and I drove up the Potomac for a walk around the tidal basin. Maybe our tourist behavior is our way of savoring the local flavor while we’re still locals. Anyway, the crowds were small and well-behaved – far fewer sprigs broken off and tucked behind the ears of stylish young ladies. Plenty of winter accessories, though: I actually saw a little girl with a leopard-spotted faux fur hand muff.

Sometimes, it’s what you don’t see that makes an afternoon a little more special. In my case that would be slow moving pedestrians absent-mindedly uh-huhing into their cell phones while their children dangle over the murky drink. There was a fortunate absence of that today. Forgive me, I’ve spent the past week immersed in as much Jane Austen as time would allow.

Back to the Tidal Basin: There were plenty of tripods scattered about, so many photo opportunities for young families. We did that too, as Sonny and Chica were growing up. Really, who can resist? Clichés be damned! It’s Cherry Blossom season after all, and Cherry Blossoms make us all look a little more beautiful, fresh-faced – innocent, even.

Welcome, spring. Welcome back, pathologically optimistic aspect of my nature.

Packing up the Boys

The snowman collection comes out every Thanksgiving when we decorate the house for Christmas. For the past fifteen Christmas mornings, Hubsy, Sonny, or Chica has presented me with the newest addition to my fluffy, goofy little army. I don’t know who decided I should collect something, but I still don’t think it was my idea, not that I object. When your husband and small children decide you collect snowmen and build a Christmas shopping ritual around your next one, you definitely collect snowmen and you love every minute of it. And when your husband and grown children continue to build the collection, well, you amass some seriously adorable pieces.

When we take down the lights, tree and other decorations, the snowmen stay out. As a teacher who enjoys a good blizzard, I think of them as inspiration for the best kind of inclement weather for my profession. Seriously, for an educated woman, I have my superstitions, so the snow guys never get put away before the first of March. This year, it didn’t happen until today. Since we’ve probably had our last Christmas season in this house, I thought I’d capture the moment.

Anyway, here they are on display in Alexandria for the last time. They’ll come out again on November 24, at a location to be determined.