Sunday Snow Storm

 

 

 

 

I haven’t had much experience driving in snow storms, but Sunday was my turn for a go at it.  We were in Elizabeth City for the weekend and heard that another winter storm system was barreling down on the East Coast.  With the uncertainty of just how bad the weather would get, we decided to head out and back to Farmville earlier than usual on Sunday. (Our plans are mostly for the benefit of my angst.  George never really intends to leave early.  Why don’t I know that by now?)

The morning completely got away from us while he dug up and replanted two trees.  This effort also required a trip to Lowes for mulch.  By 1:00 the skies were darkening and we had clearly missed the best window for departure.  Rain was pelting the windshield by the time we started north and had turned over to snow by Petersburg.

I was behind the wheel so George could read up on Monday’s lecture.  The car was quiet, almost hushed as the snow fell harder and began to blanket everything around us.  There weren’t too many other fools out, and many of those found themselves sliding off the road…some to the shoulder, some into the tree line and almost all of them facing the opposite way from their intended direction.  Slippin’ and Slidin’ one might say.  We passed over a dozen stranded folks.  There wasn’t a snow plow in sight.  We never passed a single highway patrol.  For a while we followed in the tracks of a single car ahead of us, but it eventually turned off at Blackstone.  With the lead car gone, I crept along at 15 MPH down what I hoped was the center line.  Snow crunched beneath the tires and when I looked in the rearview mirror I saw Woody staring transfixed out the window.  By that time, so was George.  The text book had been abandoned and he too was nervous.  I was white-knuckled as I gripped the wheel and concentrated on staying in the middle of the road, or at best, far away from the trees, ditches and embankments. 

It was a long two hours.  By the time we reached Crewe the snow was mixed with rain and much of the drama was gone.  I was wasted so I pulled over and let George get in the driver’s seat.  He took the wheel and drove us into Farmville without incident. 

I always say a prayer of thanks when we safely arrive at our destination….going and coming and Sunday was no exception.  Thank you Lord for bringing us safely to our journey’s end.

By Monday morning, the storm had moved up the coast and we were out enjoying (surely) the last snow of the season!

A Weekend to Remember

 

A couple of weekends ago Go Figure? hit a new milestone.  We were the opening act for a nationally acclaimed Blue Grass Band (NuBlue) on AOA’s stage.  Our repertoire for the evening included a few new tunes, one featuring our newest vocalist Billy Caudle belting out Do You Love Me.  George’s rendition of Tossin & Turning brought the house down and got folks out on the dance floor.  Phyllis got her moves and grooves going with her sultry voice to Locomotion, and I took a chance on trying I Take My Chances.  I gotta say, we held our own for our very loyal fans that always come out and support the events we come out and support.  A little bit goes a long way in all respects.  We try not to overexpose.

Having touted my own horn concerning the bands prowess, I have to say the highlight of that weekend was undoubtedly our houseguests…Kate and Matt from Raleigh and Chuck and Faye Green from Farmville.  They were perfect groupies.  Shucks, they should have gotten a cut from the band.  Oh yeah, we play for free.  My new son-in-law offered praises and promised he wasn’t embarrassed.  Kate touts we were the toast of the evening at Logan Rey’s.  Everyone clapped and hooted and hollered.   That counts big time in my book. 

The weekend was jammed packed full.  We showed off Elizabeth City with bike tours downtown and driving tours to outlying areas.  We showed off Chuck and Faye too.  It’s not every day you find such great new friends. 

Book Club friends entertained with a wonderful dinner at Linda at Oliver’s before the show on Sat.  Feted by   the Greens in Farmville during their winter road trip, the girls were able to introduce Chuck and Faye to the husbands.  Now everybody knows everybody.

Sunday morning we said goodbyes to Kate and Matt and we headed to the Outer Banks.  Who invites new friends to open a cottage for the season?  You guessed right.  We moved porch furniture out of the dining room, opened blinds and bled pipes, all the while shivering in our coats and hats.  A walk on the beach was hurried but thoroughly enjoyed by Woody.  Another afternoon of leisure, seeing Jennette’s Research Pier, taking in Roanoke Island History Center and driving over the Oregon Inlet Bridge was perfectly topped off with dinner at Tortuga’s Lie. 

It was a wonderful weekend….all great memories with great friends and great fun.  You think I sound a bit Pollyannaish?  Yeah, but I gotta say, my cup is running over.

 

 

Finding My Niche

Sometimes I feel I will never discover my niche.  You know what I mean…find something I’m good at.  Some folks even use that buzz word passion.  God knows, I’ve tried.  I’ve been casually searching all my life and hard at it now for the better part of a year.  Let’s see.  Follow me if you can.

 The band (Go Figure?) has been a great source of entertainment for all of us.  Billy on piano, MikeG on drums, MikeC on lead guitar, Douglas on trumpet, Phyllis on African drum, Jessie and George on sax (GJ sometimes on guitar and piano)…and then there’s me.  I started on bass guitar, moved to drums, now I’ve been put on bongos.  I guess the consensus is I can’t do too much damage banging away.  It didn’t hurt my feelings, really.  Lately I’ve tried my hand at pottery classes.  I’ve got a couple of mugs, a bon-bon dish and 2 art deco fish to show for my investment.  I don’t have any hidden talent with clay.  No surprise there.  Let me not forget to mention my knitting classes.  The scarf I labored on all winter would hang to Wilt Chamberlin’s feet and the hat is nothing to brag about.  It fits if I roll it up and up and up.  It makes my head look like a beach ball.  Clearly not my talent.  Just this week I signed on for a watercolor painting class.  The instructor lost me on the first theory spill discussing perception….horizons and vanishing points and so forth.  Please just hand me the brush and let me go at it.  It’s a work in progress but not holding much promise.  No surprise there.

So that leaves me still searching.  I wonder if reading counts?  I do love to read and I do know how to read.  Check.  Reading can lead to writing and I’ve been doing a bit of that lately.  Check.  I’ve written a children’s book about a fox.  Check.  The topic certainly is not one I planned and carefully chose.  It’s fair to say it strolled into my life.  So maybe I need look no further, instead embrace what has come my way.  It must have been there all along and just seemed too daunting.  My epiphany?  Writing is one heck of a lot easier than playing an instrument, throwing a pot, knitting a sweater, or painting a masterpiece.  It just may be my passion.