When I went to get the paper and yesterday’s mail earlier this morning, I gasped from the cold. I would have quick walked to the mailbox, but the street is icy. I walked gingerly. I had put deicer on my front steps, but they are slippery anyway. Right now it is 17˚. The high for the day will be 25˚.

From my den window, the day is deceivingly inviting. The sun is bright and sharp. The sky is the deepest blue and cloudless. Everything is still, even the smallest branches. The dogs come in with the coldest feeling ears and fur. Right now Nala is still out, but Henry is having his morning nap. I haven’t told him yet, but I am going to cut his nails today. Usually he doesn’t mind. I hope it is the same today.

On my hall wall is the reflection from the prism hanging on the back door window. It is beautiful. Purple and green top yellow and orange. Usually I don’t see the reflection, but I’m keeping the back door closed as I can feel the cold coming down the hall from the dog door.

In my mind’s eye, I can see myself bundled against the cold to walk to school. My winter ensemble included a hat, a winter coat with a sweater underneath, mittens, long underwear which came to my knees, socks and a scarf around my neck. When I got to school, it took a while to take off all my outside clothes while jostling for space in the crowded cloakroom.

The classroom was warm. Tall radiators were below the windows. They hissed and steamed. My classroom was crowded with kids usually numbering in the 40’s. I remember walking sideways between the desk rows as there was little room to maneuver. I remember the fourth grade when I had a back desk right in front of the windows. I’d sneak a look.

I don’t bundle much now. I usually just go from the house to the car or to the store and back again. Sometimes I just wear a sweatshirt over my flannel shirt or a light fleece on the coldest day. I don’t often wear socks or a hat or mittens, but today is so cold I’m going to bundle. My mother would be pleased.

The snow has stopped. It fell all night. I’m living in a winter wonderful. The tops of the branches are covered in snow. The road is not plowed, but I can see pavement in the ruts. As for the amount, we didn’t get all that much. When I went to get my paper, the snow didn’t even reach the tops of my slippers. The dogs love the snow, especially Nala. Her paw prints would give trackers pause. She walks then licks the snow, and you can see her weird tongue print. Later, I’m going to sweep away the snow on the walk and on my car. I will put on boots.

When I was a kid, snow was a celebration. I remember kicking the snow as I walked to school. It blew into the air like a tiny tornado of white. We’d shake bushes and watch the snow hit the ground. If the snow was wet, the branches of the bushes would pop up and more snow would fall, sometimes on us. Once we hit school, fun with snow ended. The nuns warned us about throwing snowballs and threatened punishment. We believed them and nobody threw snowballs. Nuns were not to be be disregarded.

My dance card of the week has a few events. The usual are uke practice tomorrow night and a lesson Wednesday. Friday is the dentist. He’s filling the crack in my wisdom tooth.

In school, Valentine’s Day was a big event. We all brought goodies to share like cookies and cupcakes. The nun would clear off her desk and put all of the food there. We’d put our valentine boxes on our desks. You could feel the excitement in the air. The nun called us row by row to pass out our valentines. Once that was done, the party began. We’d each pick a goodie, go back to our desks to eat, chitchat and look at our valentines.

I’d walk home carrying my valentine box as gently as I could. It was a treasure trove.