Timing is Everything

Finally, snow. The Bay State has not had any measurable snowfall this season. I've lived here all my life (so far) and have never seen a less wintry winter. For those of us who are used to the rhythms of the seasons, this is the winter of our discontent. The last couple of months have been characterized by a growing and pervading sense of wrongness. This is New England. This is winter. Where's the snow?

Here's the snow. A little St. Valentine's Day snowstorm. When we left the palace this morning there were a good couple of inches on the ground.

And me without boots.

It doesn't speak too well of my brainpower, does it? I mean, it had to snow eventually.

Well, not to worry. Just a couple of inches. Not really a problem. Unless the weather gets worse.

It got worse.

Snow became sleet. Sleet became heavy, wind-driven, freezing rain. The footing became dreadful. Slush everywhere. Mushy snowbanks. Minor street flooding. Puddles inches deep. Slush. And more slush.

How would I get about? How would I get home without destroying my shoes and soaking my feet? Who would save me?

Then my hero, rock steady FedEddy, our FedEx guy, trudged in with a delivery from the fine people at L.L Bean.

My new boots! My fancy new boots with the Gore-Tex lining and the Vibram soles. Just in the nick of time.

They fit. They are comfortable. I worked in them for a while and felt good. Then I braved the streets. I got soaked.

Puddles, rain, muck. Soaked to the skin. The only part of me that stayed dry was my feet. People were slipping and sliding. Not me. Those fancy soles are as advertised. I was a mountain goat. I felt great.

There's just something about a good pair of boots. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.