I was going about life as usual when unexpected news caught my attention: winter weather might close everything down in a day or two.
Then, it appeared. An extended winter weather event had arrived..
My partner led the way. Her employer closed at 1:00 p.m. on Monday. By Tuesday nearly every school district in the greater Dallas – Fort Worth metropolitan area had followed suit along with the majority of employers.
On Tuesday the word of the day was thunrdersleet. On Wednesday the term of the day was freezing rain. On Thursday everyone’s attention shifted to rising temperatures and their impact on the white stuff that covered our yards and the ice that coated our roadways.
Instead of the tried and true Christian message, “it’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming,” the common refrain was “it’s Thursday, but Friday’s coming.”
Friday, the day with warmer weather. Friday the day marked by 24 hours of life in well above freezing temperatures. Friday the day of new beginnings.
So What?
To say everyone’s plans suddenly changed would be a grand understatement.
During my three days at home, I found myself
- grateful to be able to work from home and to not have our household income adversely impacted by the weather
- mindful of the unequal impact the winter weather was having on those I know and love
- encouraged by the intentionality of many to stay connected by reaching out to check in and ensure all was okay
As someone who is always on the go and who relies heavily on a personal vehicle to get to nearly every engagement, this sudden shift was significant. And, it was a reminder of just how much I take for granted the ability to connect with folks in person.