Are snow days for grown ups too?
Posted at 4:10 PM on March 1, 2007
by Sanden Totten
(7 Comments)
Okay, maybe I'm just too new to Minnesota to see the threat posed by this snow storm, but truthfully, all this fuss is making me giddy. Granted, I have never actually been in a blizzard before and last week was my first real experience shoveling snow (you're gonna hate me but I thought it was . . . fun!). But I can't help thinking about how much as a kid I loved the anticipation of a good snowfall in hopes that maybe, just maybe we'd get enough to shut down school.
And as I watch my fellow workers at MPR take off for the day a few hours early, and I overhear some of them wonder if they will be working from home tomorrow, I get all excited again.What is it about missing your daily routine that is so fun?
Any insights?
To bring it back to the question of our jobs (since after all, our next In the Loop will tackle jobs head on), I think something about natural events really shakes up our relationship to our work life in a good way. Left to our own devices, many of us will force ourselves to work more, stay later and give more of our mind over to our job. But when something like a snow storm comes along it knocks us back into perspective. When you can't stay late, when you can't make it to work early then you are forced to admit that your job really isn't everything. That there are basic things -- like walkways to be shoveled, hot cocoa to drink, friends and family to check in on -- things that when the snow hits the pavement take precedence over what ever we do for a paycheck . . . plus snowball fights. They are awesome.
Speaking of which, I should take off. But if you are stuck inside and reading this, tell me, what feeling does a snow storm give you?
Comments (7)
Well... I'm not in MN (although I was supposed to fly in tonight...now it's possibly tomorrow) but I am in the blizzard path and it's deep! Not much fun for me though. I have VPN access to work so I was working today anyway.
But to your point, adult snow days are fun as long as the fridge is stocked. :)
There is a certain pleasure, a certain feeling of comfort in not going. Not doing. Not being in control. A certain guilty satisfaction in not working because of the weather. Like legal hooky. We eat popcorn and watch movies and look out the window, and for a brief moment think, this really is nice, this winter stuff.
I agree with Jim! Having lived through North Dakota winters, there is something comforting about snow. It always looks peaceful and pristine (unless it is blowing around) but also fluffy and quiet at the same time. It is like the entire city shuts down and hides for a bit--and having a snow storm do that for you is like having Mother Nature tell you that it is time to take a break. Snow storms do bring out the feeling of "simplify"...you can realize that just by looking out the window--you can actually be happy to just be inside and be WARM.
Funny, it wasn't so "comforting" driving home from my volunteer job at 8:00 last night in that peaceful, pristine, SLIIIIIIIPPERY snow!
But heart-achingly beautiful, with a pure-white color palette and all the trees laden with porridge-sticky dollops of fresh snow? Oh yeah, you betcha.
Yes, I have to agree. Every winter, I swear it will be the last winter in Minnesota. I long for green grass in the winter and sometimes curse the cold. But, a winter storm like this does make you pause and see the beauty of the winter and I feel lucky to live in Minnesota.
Yeah!
And let me tell you, to all you Minnesotans who imagine milder winters elsewhere have something on your snow filled season . . . I have lived in warmer climates for the winter and while it's nice not to have the biting cold, let's face it, winter is always a bit of a bummer. But when it's just colder and grayer and NOT snowing, it's far more depressing. A bright snowfall is like little reminders of light and happiness in what otherwise can be a very gloomy season.
Plus shoveling is an awesome workout.
patrol snow cars chasing lyrics
| March 2007 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Master Archive
Recent Entries
- Last Tune: You Had a Good Run
- The. Last. Show.
- In The Loop is ending. (There, I said it.)
- The Chilean Priest, the Stubborn Senator, and the Secret Shopper in the Back Pew
- One Pastor describes the "moral quake" in Chile
- NewsTune: Jim Bunning's Placed a Hold on My Heart
- Rate your Church
- Playing your heart out (and hoping to make money at it)
- A Singing Tiger, a Dancing Frenchman, a Snowboarder and Bill Nye walk into a podcast...
- Surviving Snowboard Cross
Categories
Services
In The Spotlight
-
The Current Music Blog
Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock