On being grateful

When my employer announced that both factories would be closing for 2 weeks over Christmas, I decided I too would be closing for 2 weeks over Christmas.





My mind and body were exhausted from the emotional roller coaster I'd been on for several months. I tell everyone I'm doing fine, but my actions and words betray me occasionally.





Although I had used up all my vacation time for the year, I rationalized that my sanity is worth more than a paycheque. What the heck, I can buy less food, right? (although 2 weeks wages is a huge amount of food, hmmmm.... oh well, I'll figure it out)





When discussing my holiday plans with friends and family, I'd tell them "I am so looking forward to not having an alarm wake me in the morning. I want to be able to curl up with a book by the fire, stay in my jammies all day if I choose and not have to be anywhere at a certain time".





WELL....I know I have many guardian angels hovering and one in particular who perches on my shoulder....I guess they were all listening to me.





Thursday December 18th, I couldn't dig my way out of my driveway because of a snowstorm, so I stayed home from work. Although I was shoveling all day, it wasn't like I "had to be anywhere at a certain time". Friday I did get into the office for a few hours, but left early when the snow started flying.





Tomorrow will be my first day back to work in over 2 weeks.





Other than alot of shoveling, and decorating (see previous post) and enjoying family & friends over the holidays....I was able to not have an alarm wake me in the morning. I curled up with a book by the fire, stayed in my jammies all morning and did not have to be anywhere at a certain time" (with the exception of a couple of appointments).





This is not to say it was always relaxing....I was usually awake anywhere between 3:30 am and 5:30 am (week 1), always had shoveling to do, had to tote in many totes of wood to keep the house warm, more shoveling, walk the dog every day, etc etc.





So, getting back to the title of this blog "On Being Grateful".....




A long time friend lives an hour south of me. We rarely see each other but during our forced confinement we began emailing several times daily. Frustration at the snow & the reality of being captive in her beautiful hilltop (i.e. steep driveway covered in snow and ice) home overlooking the ocean spawned her need to ponder on 'being grateful' each day. Now we email each other a daily 'being grateful' message, as much to keep in touch as to acknowledge that there is always that silver lining around the snow clouds.

I am grateful for the snowstorms.

Although we are not prepared for this much white stuff on the wet coast, I know it encouraged me to be housebound. And that's exactly what I had wanted during my sabattical. The angels were listening. But I think they weren't communicating, and each one of them sent 'a little snow' to get that cocooning effect happening.





Had the weather been balmy and wet, typical for a wet coast Christmas I know I would have wended my way to the office to get caught up on a few things, I would have felt the need to go somewhere (like the cities that bracket my hamlet) and would have been frustrated at not accomplishing a list of 'to do's'.









So Guardian Angels, are you listening? Thank you for making Christmas 2008 one for the weather history books, however my sabbatical is over. I need to go earn some cash, (throw in a winning lottery ticket if you can). You can turn off the 'cold' tap and let the golden orb do the job of melting the snow v-e-r-y s-l-0-w-l-y.


What are you grateful for today?