Sunday, February 10, 2013

Sunday Salon: Blizzard of '13

That's what my front porch looked like yesterday around noontime, after the snow had finally stopped!

This isn't the worst blizzard I've ever lived through; I think it ranks 6 or 7 for the most recorded snowfall in Massachusetts- but the timing has special significance. When I was five, actually just about on my fifth birthday, Massachusetts experienced the Blizzard of 1978, and tomorrow I'll be turning 40, so I know I'm always going to remember this as the Birthday Blizzard. The bookstore was closed Friday as the snow started and Saturday as it stopped, so I had two days of staying inside, watching movies, cleaning, doing crafts, and of course reading. We were very lucky and didn't lose power or experience any real hardship. My husband did a little shoveling but that was it. It's been heavenly, I have to admit.

I've been doing a re-read of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, a great choice for a snowbound day. Reading it again, knowing what's going to happen, I'm seeing foreshadowing and experiencing du Maurier's luscious prose for its own sake. Re-reading is something I rarely do; looking at all the books on my shelf, floors and furniture that I haven't read, re-reading feels like a real indulgence. Rebecca is a book I know I'll re-read periodically forever. It's just so compelling and entrancing. If you haven't tried it I urge you to; it's a real classic and a tale of psychological suspense you'll never forget.

I go back to work on Tuesday and until then I'll be reading, sewing, cleaning and keeping busy as usual. What are you up to today? Did you experience the blizzard? Let me know in the comments and have a great Sunday!

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14 comments:

Ali said...

We rarely get significant snow in Oregon. Sometimes I miss those big snowstorms. Enjoy it if you can!

Mystica said...

Glad you are safe. I watched it on the news and it looks horrendous.

Audrey said...

Happy, happy birthday, Marie! There's a wonderful quote in Trollope's The Small House at Allington that says something like "if a woman's going to be 40, she should be 40" and I can tell you from experience that he's right. :) I'm glad we could throw you this blizzard to help celebrate. I was so warm and comfy yesterday that I decided not to go out in the afternoon, but I'm almost sorry I missed my chance to take a stroll down the middle of Beacon Street. :)
Audrey

bermudaonion said...

I'm glad you weathered the storm well! It was warm and sunny here. I don't want any snow but a couple days of hibernation sure does sound good!

Bryan G. Robinson said...

Happy early birthday, Marie. Sounds like a great way to spend it before you have to go back to work.

Here in upper Pa., we didn't get hit as hard as expected. Maybe four inches of snow, if that.

As for what I'm up to today, I'll probably continue reading The Shining. I do have Rebecca on my TBR shelf, but alas, I just haven't gotten to it. :(

wellwell2 said...

We had a lovely vicarious snow storm here in Virginia thinking about our former little house in Maine. Now that I'm older I prefer vicarious snow and imaginary shoveling.

Hillary said...

Happy Birthday!! I am glad you are safe and did not lose power or anything.I saw pictures online and that looks like it is a blizzard to remember!

Sandy Nawrot said...

Hey Happy Birthday girl! I'm SO jealous of the downtime. I want downtime, and I'm looking at maybe 6 years before I REALLY get it. Even when we get hurricanes down here and there is no school, I'm busy freaking out worrying about flooding or falling trees. I can't think of a better book to re-read on a snow day than Rebecca. That is such an awesome book.

JoAnn said...

Happy Birthday, Marie!! Your weekend sounds perfectly heavenly. We got about a foot of snow here, but that's manageable for us, especially since we didn't get the wind. Things were back to normal by Saturday morning.

I really need to reread Rebecca!

Booksnyc said...

Happy Birthday, Marie! You got a lot of snow up in MA - we only got one foot. It looked beautiful coming down but didn't really bring things to a halt at all.

Enjoy your birthday week!

Space Station Mir said...

Glad to hear the blizzard wasn't so bad for you! Rebecca truly is a masterful work of suspense. Have you read du Maurier's My Cousin Rachel? I always imagine that Rebecca was a little like that character.

Anonymous said...

As a snow belt Clevelander it is always nice when someone else gets the snow! Glad you enjoyed your days at home.

Becca said...

We don't experience that kind of snow done in NC. It would most certainly shut the entire state down!

Ryan said...

I may complain a lot about living in Asia, but one thing I don't miss is snow.