After I had bragged here about months of unseasonably nice weather at home, Robyn and I just returned from a glorious week on a beach in the Dominican Republic to find eight inches of snow on the ground with temperatures hovering in the low twenties.
Snow and the trailing bitter cold constituted a one-two punch. In my absence, Mont had maintained the common areas (and, more importantly, the care and feeding of Lola the Pup); meanwhile, my back porch and stairs remained encased in solidly frozen snow. Accordingly, immediately upon my return, I had to shovel a narrow access path from the bottom of the porch stairs to the sliding glass door that connects my kitchen to the outdoors. Predictably, before I could admire my handiwork, five or six inches of fresh snow appeared overnight.
The attendant weather-related issues also were predictable and familiar: donning heavy coats, hats, and gloves; trying to find a spot to park your car (a despicable local tradition of claiming parking spot “dibs” after a snowstorm remains prevalent in certain neighborhoods, but not mine, which I view as an imprecise measuring stick of our relative affluence); safely navigating the icy stairs, sidewalks, alleys, and curbs on foot without serious mishap. As I age, accomplishing such simple tasks takes on greater significance.
According to the National Weather Service, this is only the first of two or three successive waves of snow and cold predicted to hit our area, due to the phenomenon known as the polar vortex. And to think the official start of Winter is still three weeks away!
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This is the time of year when I feel sorry for Lola, who absolutely loves the snow, but doesn’t have a kind master who shares the sentiment. Instead of romping through it, we remain indoors, biding our time until we depart for the sunny, warm, and (generally) frost-free climes of Arizona.
Other people share my sentiment. The other day, our neighbor Gwen, while on her way to dig out her vehicle, had remarked excitedly that she hadn’t seen Lola much recently. And when I let Lola outside yesterday morning, I spotted a small paper bag hanging from my fence, left there by our young friends, Hanan and Michael, full of holiday cookies for us. Lola misses interacting with her adoring public.
Winter here is already long enough, thank you. Now we can look forward to experiencing at least three extra weeks of it. I would say that the one positive thing about this early preview of approaching winter is the knowledge that in only four or five weeks, Lola and I will get out of Dodge.
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I am hopeful Robyn will see fit to join me for a longer stay in 2026. I would welcome it. It remains to be determined, of course, but it is possible that Lola’s absence from her life could tilt the odds slightly in my favor, especially at this time of year, when a cuddly, warm dog in the bed can feel more comfortable than a quilted down comforter.
My old and dear friends, Craig and Donna, will visit Arizona while I’m there to settle some business involving his late father’s estate. It’s possible that my dear friends, Bob and Linda, will make a return engagement this season. If so, then Lola and I shall not be wanting for good company. I also have a short overnight jaunt to charming Bisbee, Arizona, in mind for Robyn and me during her visit. It’s already shaping up as an action-packed winter getaway, giving me plenty to consider while currently housebound.
However, before the weather conditions here improve, they are predicted to worsen, with Sunday’s forecast now calling for a high temperature below ten degrees. Yeowww!
