Coincidence?

This past Friday, in the middle of the night as I was trying to will myself back to sleep, I suddenly thought of a student I'd had in class way back in 1969-70. His name was Joe.

I hadn't thought of Joe in many years, and there was no reason why I should. I'd known many students between 1968 and 2004, when I retired, so it wasn't a surprise to me that Joe had not entered my thoughts. I'd seen him once since 1970, when Ken and I were eating at a Portland restaurant and Joe was our waiter.

That incident was probably at least 30 years ago.

But I remembered yesterday that Joe had sprung to mind the night before, so I decided to see if I could locate him on White Pages. I found someone with his name living in Cape Elizabeth, aged 60, and decided that was probably the Joe I once knew. Then I forgot about him again.

This morning I sat reading the Sunday paper. Imagine my shock when there, in the obituaries, was listed Joe, the Joe I once knew, age 60, a resident of Cape Elizabeth. Joe had died unexpectedly on Friday, February 22.

Is this merely a coincidence? I don't know. What do you think?

Blizzard of 2013 vs. Sinusitis of 2013

So the Blizzard of 2013 did materialize, just as predicted, and we were blessed with about 30 inches of light, dry snow.

Ken said it was easy to remove the snow because of its lightness, but then there was the wind, which howled the entire day of the storm.

Ken finally gave up and finished clearing the driveway the next day, which was sunny and beautiful.

I did most of my picture-taking from my kitchen window, I admit. It was warm and cosy inside, after all.

Finally, around noontime the next day, I ventured outside with my camera and snapped a few additional photos.

What I didn't realize the storm would bring, in addition to the snow and cold, was a nasty bout of acute sinusitis for me.

I spent most of last week enduring the headaches, the toothaches, the sleepless nights, telling myself I'd surely feel better then next day. When I finally had to admit the next day just wasn't getting here, I saw the doctor, got myself some antibiotics and other paraphernalia, and am now, at long last, beginning to feel human again.

Excuse the belated Valentine's header. I meant to post this on Valentine's Day but was too busy indulging in self-pity.

The waiting is wearing me down

The "crippling blizzard" which is forecast for coastal Maine hasn't shown itself yet. It's not due until this evening, in fact, or maybe late this afternoon, and will play itself out tomorrow afternoon.

If it arrives at all, that is.

I've seen too many major storms forecast for Maine, only to learn the storm has gone out to sea before reaching us. I know I should be thankful for that, but we do need a good snowstorm, and I love the beauty of fresh, deep snow on the landscape. A chance to do some snowshoeing and cross-country skiing wouldn't hurt, either.

I remember several years ago a storm such as this approaching one was predicted for Maine. I had visions of being able to leave our house only by crawling out second-story windows. The storm, however, proved to be a puny little thing. We could still use our normal routes of exiting the house!

So we'll see what happens. Meanwhile, we're getting a smaller snowstorm, unrelated to the big one, this morning. Several inches have fallen and the snow continues to come down steadily. A 19-car pile up has closed Interstate 295 near Falmouth, so this "little" storm isn't to be taken lightly at all.

My nerves are slightly frayed. The blizzard has been forecast since Monday, each updated forecast being a smidge more hysterical that the one before it.

Ken spent much of yesterday gassing up the tractor, snowblower, and generator. I got up at 5:00 this morning, because I never can sleep late if a storm is approaching. I decided I'd better do a load of dishes in the dishwasher, wash two loads of clothes, and make a beef barley soup. So those tasks are done. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get out the vacuum cleaner next....

I was supposed to go to Boston with a couple of friends today. That trip had to be cancelled, of course. The annual Valentine's party that my sorority  throws for the residents of a local nursing home, scheduled for tomorrow, has been cancelled as well. I'm disappointed by that, since the seniors enjoy the party and the killer Bingo games we play, games which result (due to, shall I say it? a little cheating on our parts) in every senior receiving two, sometimes three prizes. Also, yesterday I baked the shortbread Valentine cookies for the party.

The entirety of coastal and somewhat-inland Maine has been cancelled for today: schools are shut, meetings are called off, even businesses are closed.

We'll see what the world looks like tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, I have my knitting.