SNOW STORIES By the MESQUITE STAFF
First Snowfall
By Amanda Aguilar
For this first amazing snow day that I get to experience, I’m spending it warm at home with my mom and cousin, both of whom are ready for a movie day.
Still in my pajamas, at around 7:30 this morning, I got myself out of my warm bed determined to get out there and enjoy my very first snow fall. The dusty layer of snow is so much prettier during the daytime. I woke up the rest of my family and forced them to come out and enjoy it with me. I even got to throw my first snowball at my dad as he was getting ready for work! Of course he seeked revenge and I had one coming at me after that.
My mom works for SAISD and was just as happy as I was when they cancelled classes right before TAMU-SA did. My father braved the slick roads to get to work, only to realize he was the only one there. He’s waiting for the snow to melt more before he starts his journey back home.
Last night around midnight, our doorbell rang. It was my cousin Elizabeth. She was trying to make her way home when the black ice started to stick and ended up hitting a guard rail. Since the car was still drivable she continued on her way, but by then all major highways were shut down, and she didn’t know how to make it to where she’s staying by frontage roads. Luckily, the exit to my house was just a few yards away. To make it worse her cell phone lost all of its battery power, so she couldn’t even call.
Although her car’s front bumper was banged up, she made it safely to my house and stayed over night. It all seemed to work out well on this lovely snow day in San Antonio. After two hours of having fun in the snow, my little house started to seem much more pleasing. Now, all warm and cozy, I’m with my family and plan to spend the day inside watching movies, drinking hot chocolate, staying in our pajamas and enjoying this rare and magical day.
Early Riser
By Yesenia Camacho
This morning, as soon as I woke up, I jumped out of bed and reached out over my bed to peak down outside from my window-located on the second floor, facing the back yard of my house. I immediately became excited at the sight of the powder covered picnic table, grill, swing set and grass.
Being the “grown up” that I am, I bundled up and headed for the other rooms to wake Gabriel, Melissa and Vanessa, my nieces and nephew. I had all three of them take a look outside from the upstairs living room window-they went to sleep last night hoping for snow.
In no time, Gabriel and the girls were also bundled up, each equipped with sweat pants, gloves, beanie, scarf and jacket-; we made our way downstairs toward the exit door and once outside, we engaged in a snow fight against one another. Moments later, my older sister joined the snow war.
As I was shooting photographs of our wonderful experience, Vanessa-age 9, swung a handful of snow directly into my face immediately running away from my retribution. Unfortunately, my retribution was delayed by the stiffness of my hands and my inability to bring warmth back onto my face.
Moments later, I walked myself back into the house, into the kitchen, poured some milk on a stainless steel pot and placed the pot on the stove top to boil. I was ready for some hot chocolate.
Nowhere to be, nowhere to go, and no way to get there
Tammy Busby
What? How I’m spending my time in the snow? You must be kidding. I’m in longjohns and my housecoat. Pictures of my neighborhood? I’ll send you the view out my front door. My Chihuahua has on his longjohns too. I put a heating pad in his carrier, “the dog purse” my son calls it, and now he won’t come out. I called him to the front door this morning and he just looked up at me, and settled on his haunches.
My eleven-year-old went happily out at nine and came back half an hour later crying, holding up his hands like doctor about to operate. “They’re burning!” he wailed. He’s okay, but he’s not too keen to go back out either. I tried to send him out with the camera and he brought me a picture of the porch rail. I put my boots on and threw my coat over my housecoat and ventured out the door for a quick picture of something weatherwise. I saw my scooter seat covered in little drifts and wavy lines of ice and thought “no way am I going to straddle that today”. Click.
I walked two houses down the sidewalk and wondered if anyone had checked on the old lady who lives there alone. I don’t know her, but I smile and wave when I see her working on her flowerbeds. My apartment is in a large very old building. Our units have connections for gas heaters, like the ones my grandmother used to have, but no heaters. It looks like her house has central heat and air, I hope that she is not struggling like me to stay warm. That made me say a little prayer. “Dear Lord, please don’t let me be the one to burn the place down.”
I think I’ll have a hot chocolate, since I have the stove top lit. It’s a snow day and I have nowhere to be, nowhere to go, and no way to get there.
