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March 2007
Pssst...It's Winter Folks
By: Laura Bradford
Creative Writer
I saw a very strange sight last month.
Something I don’t see in my neighborhood when the temperatures are below freezing and there’s snow on the ground.
Wait.
That’s not quite true.
I see them, briefly, shovel in hand. Or maybe for a split second if I happen to drive down the road as they’re leaving their rabbit hole long enough to stick some letters in the mailbox… But that’s about it.
Now, I’m not knocking them or passing judgment—trust me. If I was, I’d be a total hypocrite.
Because, like the vast majority of people living in St. Charles County, I become the proverbial groundhog who’s pulled from his hole long enough to check out the weather before scurrying back into the warmth and comfort of his winter refuge.
Think about it. Who, in their right mind, wants to spend any time outside in the freezing cold temperatures and wet, messy snow when there’s a nice warm sofa and television available to help pass the time indoors?
Well, apparently residents of New Town…that’s who.
That’s right. My strange sighting last month was a person. Outdoors.
Hold on.
It gets even crazier...
That person wasn’t the only one. And they weren’t shoveling their driveways at warp speed only to sprint inside and bolt the door when they were done.
They stayed outside.
Skating on the lakes and canals.
Walking to the mail center to check their boxes.
Visiting with neighbors outside Marsala’s Market.
Building snow people.
Heading to the Prancing Pony for a night of karaoke.
All this, despite the weather seasonal couch potatoes have come to know and love.
Want to hear something even crazier?
I wanted to join them.
That’s right...me. The very same girl who lives for lounge chairs, sun bathing, and laps in a swimming pool. The same girl who diligently carries an afghan around the house (think Linus) from November until March.
I’ll say it again—I wanted to join them.
Now that’s strange.
So strange is that statement, it makes me wonder what’s "in the water" out here.
Only there’s one problem. It’s frozen. And being used as a skating rink.
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