Looking Forward

I am looking forward to not having to survive another Ithaca winter.
I have been sorting through all our 2010 photos the past few days putting together photobooks. The thought crossed my mind that if we were still there, that is what I would be dreading- or experiencing - right now. I can't describe how difficult it was at times for me to be a mother of young children in a place where you are literally forced to be indoors for much of the year. The winter was a depressing, difficult time for me.
Yeah, it took me like 2 1/2 hours to shovel that junk off my car so I could leave my house and save myself from going insane. I don't even remember what I did with my kids while I did it. I think they played in the snow for about 10 minutes and then they were like, "I'm cold. Let's go inside," and they watched me from the window (I know, good thing Spencer wasn't alive then. He gets neglected enough as it is).

I remember last January Josh was gone at a conference for like a week and I had the kids all to myself during one of the many snow-all-day-no-sun spells. It was during a time when most of my friends were gone for the holidays, too, so I was really alone.

All day, inside, alone, with bored children, for a week. That.was.my.life.

Josh is gone for the next few days at a conference and I just can't tell you how much a difference it makes that I can take my kids outside for a walk, open the window and let the sun stream in, or go to the grocery store without having to put on 3 layers of clothing plus boots, hats, scarves, and mittens on 3 children. I will never again take the fact that I can leave my house at will or that I get to see the sun every day for granted. It is just one of those simple blessings you would not miss until you didn't have it.

Because I am bashing on Ithaca, I have to remind all my friends that I do really love the place and I do love and miss them. It puts me on the verge of tears to realize that we will never again have a Winston Court bar-b-que or go apple picking at Grisamore Farms or hiking in Sapsucker Woods or into NYC for a weekend shopping trip.