I promise I'm not actually neglecting this blog. It's been a busy week of news, meetings, happenings, and infomerical skits. I've been a little distracted to say the least. Plus it has been super hot here. I don't know about you, but when it's hot enough to warrant a heat advisory overnight, I have very little motivation to do anything but lay motionless on the couch. :) So for all of you dealing with the oppressive heat this week, I thought I would share a little piece I wrote last week about a freezing ice-covered morning from the winter of 2008 in Madison. Enjoy.
jitters getting ready. questioning the outfit, already vetted twice with her roommate the night before. a glance out the window confirms her worst fears. ice. no snow justice. she's a wisconsin girl with a damaged sense of winter driving. one incident in a ditch miles from home stays with her. she's secretly hoping the car won't start, but the promise to and of the boys eggs her on. they really shouldn't be the cause of the urgency instead a higher power that sunday morning. but that's a confession she'll keep to herself.
cautious ginger steps toward the vehicle yield one windmill and one fall. if she can't g to the car who can she drive it? without too much effort she knows the decision is inevitable. public transport it is. a round of phone calls later plans are made. they will get there together.
a few short moments later, she's out to brave the ice again. this time without the mental anguish of driving hanging over her head, she moves slowly but purposely. walking the long way around the block she see him fall. soon up again she can imagine the flush of his cheeks, only partially from the cold. he's cautious now, and it costs them. he reaches her in time to see their bus whiz by seemingly undeterred by the ice, too far gone to flag down. the moment of disillusionment passes quicly as she finds her phone to warn their companion of their speedy ride.
they assess their predicament. they have too little time to walk home and back without risking another miss. and it's too treacherous to wait outdoors. they see the compromise and sieze it. a relatively quick jaunt across the parking lot leads them to the coffee shop. they find they are not the only ones taking refuge from the cold. other grace the tables cradling mugs of warmth. they order, and she pays, his wallet forgotten in the confusion.
the conversation is halting at first; their social lubricant having caught the first bus. despite their weekly trip, they rare spent time alone. once they warmed up both physically and conversationally, she got lost in the stories. pieces of his personality shining mor brightly without the norh star there to drown them out. the time passed quickly and soon they'd bundled up and trudged toward the stop hoping they'd timed it well. just long enogh to get there, but not so long they got cold.
moments after they arrive, the bus came slogging through the slush. this time moving as gingerly as they were. the driver greeted them with a smile and a decision. this was the last chance, no more service for the day. with one glance, they hopped off the bus and waved it along. out came the phones to share the bad news: they wouldn't be making it and the rest may be stranded there. after a chuckle about the earlier misfortune turning out to be a lucky fall, they said their goodbyes, happy to warm up at home, but reluctant to part ways. she smiled to herself. some would see it as a wasted morning but she knew she gained more having failed the task than if she had succeeded.
jitters getting ready. questioning the outfit, already vetted twice with her roommate the night before. a glance out the window confirms her worst fears. ice. no snow justice. she's a wisconsin girl with a damaged sense of winter driving. one incident in a ditch miles from home stays with her. she's secretly hoping the car won't start, but the promise to and of the boys eggs her on. they really shouldn't be the cause of the urgency instead a higher power that sunday morning. but that's a confession she'll keep to herself.
cautious ginger steps toward the vehicle yield one windmill and one fall. if she can't g to the car who can she drive it? without too much effort she knows the decision is inevitable. public transport it is. a round of phone calls later plans are made. they will get there together.
a few short moments later, she's out to brave the ice again. this time without the mental anguish of driving hanging over her head, she moves slowly but purposely. walking the long way around the block she see him fall. soon up again she can imagine the flush of his cheeks, only partially from the cold. he's cautious now, and it costs them. he reaches her in time to see their bus whiz by seemingly undeterred by the ice, too far gone to flag down. the moment of disillusionment passes quicly as she finds her phone to warn their companion of their speedy ride.
they assess their predicament. they have too little time to walk home and back without risking another miss. and it's too treacherous to wait outdoors. they see the compromise and sieze it. a relatively quick jaunt across the parking lot leads them to the coffee shop. they find they are not the only ones taking refuge from the cold. other grace the tables cradling mugs of warmth. they order, and she pays, his wallet forgotten in the confusion.
the conversation is halting at first; their social lubricant having caught the first bus. despite their weekly trip, they rare spent time alone. once they warmed up both physically and conversationally, she got lost in the stories. pieces of his personality shining mor brightly without the norh star there to drown them out. the time passed quickly and soon they'd bundled up and trudged toward the stop hoping they'd timed it well. just long enogh to get there, but not so long they got cold.
moments after they arrive, the bus came slogging through the slush. this time moving as gingerly as they were. the driver greeted them with a smile and a decision. this was the last chance, no more service for the day. with one glance, they hopped off the bus and waved it along. out came the phones to share the bad news: they wouldn't be making it and the rest may be stranded there. after a chuckle about the earlier misfortune turning out to be a lucky fall, they said their goodbyes, happy to warm up at home, but reluctant to part ways. she smiled to herself. some would see it as a wasted morning but she knew she gained more having failed the task than if she had succeeded.
That was such a good day.
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