This take on the winter mix applies only to those of us who have it for a couple of days. Those living in Covid days without electricity and water have overwhelming difficulties that require more than this little attitude adjustment.
Our world feeds the work ethic and I have bought in. From an early age, I knew the adage, “Make hay while the sun shines.” As a child, I glowed with overheard praise from Southern adults, “Virginia Ann is really smart.” Their meaning had nothing to do with my intellect but meant that I could be found busy doing whatever needed to be done. I have always liked work (with a few exceptions such as dusting). I consider hanging out doing nothing on some beach right up at the top of boring activities.
Even in the years I was teaching school, I seldom welcomed a snow day because it always came when I had something really important planned for my students. Two things failed to occur to me. One was that even if the snow had come on a different day, I would still have had something really important planned. The second was that if we missed one day of a five-day week, I could not pack all of my plans into the four days that were left. If there was a group for people like me, I would have to introduce myself on my turn, “I am Virginia, and I am a workaholic.”
Since I have always had work that I enjoyed, most of the time my problem doesn’t bother me or anyone else that I can tell. However, there are times, like this week, when I need to get a grip. What does a workaholic do when the weather forecast is “winter mix”? As we approached a weekend in South Mississippi with freezing rain, I thought back to the only really good snowstorm we’ve had in the twenty years we’ve lived here. Snow covered the ground when we got up that morning and sifted down all day long. I had a deadline looming, but the view was beautiful out the window from in front of my fire. I made a conscious decision to sit and watch all day. It’s been a couple of years. I retain the memory of that snowfall but can’t tell you what the deadline was. I’m sure I made it since I have only missed one when Katrina knocked out our power.
When I heard the “winter mix” forecast, I recalled that day I stopped and watched it snow and made a decision. I got out the warm socks, blankets, books, puzzles, and hot chocolate and prepared to enjoy the view. I have made up my own new adage for the occasion, “While away wintry mix. Work will wait.”