Winter Wonderland

It didn't happen in time for Christmas, but I think today has made up for it. I awoke to Jasper's coughing and after chasing him around with the AeroKat, I happened to glance out the window and it was completely white outside.

I lit the fireplace and stood back for a moment to take it all in.

This was at eight A.M. and it is still snowing. I have about six inches on the decks; the once-naked trees are festooned in snowflakes and the evergreens look like models from a Christmas card.

I let Nakori and Jasper out onto the deck for a short spell...they were fascinated by the little flakes falling from the sky, and their coats fluffed out to insulate them as they took tentative steps into the snow, leaving unbearably cute little footprints that made me smile when I looked at them after the kitties came back in.

Jasper practically had to be pulled back inside but Nakori came willingly, his whiskers decorated with flecks of snow. Damn, that was cute!

He ambled over to the fireplace and assumed the loaf position, enjoying the warmth. Reflections of tiny flames darted around on his eyes--all he needed was a little Santa hat to transform him from adorable to downright schlocky.

I'm in my bedroom now, and I can hear kids laughing and hollering outside--I bet they're doubly happy that it's a No School Day AND they get to play in the snow.

It is expected to snow through out today, overnight and into tomorrow. Originally the weather reports forcast snow turning to sleet this afternoon and finally rain, washing all the white away and turning the roads to black ice after the temperatures drop back down overnight, and that's anything but pretty.

However, the wonderland has gotten something of a reprieve. It's really gorgeous. After several months of just about the worst depression I've ever experienced, I find myself in something of a magical place: not far from Sean and Amanda, living in a large but cozy home, reveling in a beautiful landscape and feeling grateful for the turn of events that, although I hate the way they came about, I'm grateful to have been set free to come back home.

I mean, really home