Waiting for the Storm

Monday, March 20, 2006

Snow was coming, and Collette knew that the radio announcer would not be happy about it.

“I hope you notice the edge in my voice… because it is going to be deeply ironic,” he began, quite irritated… a little maniacal laughter…

For as it was the first day of spring, they were finally receiving predictions of snow from three to six inches. Some places would possibly see nine to thirteen, in Nebraska. And the world was full of other floods, fires, rain, snow, and cyclones that weekend, but what was new?

Meanwhile, Sunday evening, OLeif, Joe, and Pepper threw hard mud clods at one another outside the old farmhouse with Rose and Molly looking on from the back porch as the snow clouds started piling in. OLeif bought several bags of candy at Mr. Bulkey’s, including a giant peanut butter cup and strawberry candies for Collette. Mom called to share a little bit about the Lincoln museum which had been amazing. And after OLeif had monitored a flame war on the youth forum, they called it a day.

“In Connecticut, so the story goes, [Roger Sherman] was asked to give the dedication speech for a new bridge. He walked out onto the bridge, stood for a moment, came back, and turned to the crowd. ‘It stands steady,’ he said. That was the whole speech.”

– From Colonies to Country, p. 169