"Be thankful every chance you get. Not because life has been easy, perfect, or exactly as you had anticipated, but because you choose to be happy and grateful for all the good things you do have and all the problems you know you don't have." (Author Unknown)
Hello, my lovely friends!
So, did everyone actually survive the Great Frost and those dramatic storms? I know some of you truly went through the ringer, and I promise I’m sending warm thoughts your way. Meanwhile, over in my neck of the woods, the "weather event" was a bit of a theatrical flop. Sure, we endured those bitter, negative temperatures all day, but as for the snow? It was less of a winter wonderland and more of a light dusting that couldn't even commit to the bit for forty-eight hours.
Poor Scoots was the most offended of all. He caught a glimpse of the white stuff at night and likely went to bed with visions of epic drifts dancing in his head, only to wake up to a backyard that had mostly returned to its usual self. He did manage to hunt down a stray patch or two of slush near the fence, looking very much like a dog who had been promised a blizzard and was handed a lukewarm slushie instead.
Last Friday, the universe decided to pair a funeral with a blizzard, forcing us out into the kind of cold that makes you question every life choice you’ve ever made. We were mourning my aunt’s mother on my dad’s side, and I’ll be honest—the snow almost won the "should we stay or should we go" debate. However, we were the official guardians of the post-service cake.
Despite the frostbite-inducing trek, it was actually lovely to see everyone. We took over a few tables afterward to swap stories and play the ultimate game of "Who Have You Seen Lately?" I’ve truly missed that side of the family, even if my excitement was seasoned with a healthy dose of "please don't breathe on me" anxiety. It seems half the guest list had recently battled another round of COVID, which had me eyeing the room like a germaphobe in a petri dish.
To play it safe, I started aggressive preventative measures with my medicine cabinet the moment I felt the winter chill trying to turn into a full-blown relapse. Thankfully, my immune system took the hint and held the line. I managed to survive the snow, the germs, and the emotional rollercoaster without bringing home a parting gift of the sniffles—which is a win in my book.
Yesterday, the world went dark—no internet, no cable, and a blissful silence from the phones. While most people would have spiraled into a digital withdrawal-induced panic, I found it surprisingly refreshing. It turns out that scrubbing a kitchen is significantly more therapeutic when you aren’t being bombarded by notifications or the background hum of the 24-hour news cycle.
The forced offline status gave me the perfect excuse to finally tackle my mom’s craving for white tortilla cheese enchiladas. I whipped up a dozen, and we spent the afternoon splitting them and chatting about absolutely nothing of consequence. It was pure, unhurried quiet—at least until Mom decided the silence needed a soundtrack. She fired up some Cher and started dancing in her seat, turning a tech blackout into a full-blown living room concert. Honestly? It was the best day we’ve had in a long time.
I’m so grateful you spent a bit of your day here with me. I hope the rest of your morning, afternoon, or evening is filled with little moments of joy and a whole lot of cozy. Take good care of yourself, and I’ll be looking forward to our next chat!
