The Blizzard of '09

I went for a walk yesterday evening to see if anything was actually open in a storm like this. Even though I’m unable to drive, I love that the roads aren’t clear yet. Most sidewalks had a tiny walkway cleared from other walkers, but for the most part you have to walk right down the middle of the street. My street is steep and nowhere near ready to be driven on. Neighbors had gathered at the top of the street and were sledding right down the middle of it. I walked along the street to see if anything was open. There is something so beautiful about seeing regular things covered in snow. I especially loved all of the Christmas lights that were buried beneath but still on, creating a soft white glow on bushes and ledges. I’m dreading 6 o’clock tomorrow when the snow plows are supposed to come through.

Despite its many inconveniences, the blizzard of '09 seems to have a unifying affect on downtown Fredericksburg. I’ve seen strangers sharing shovels and brooms to clear off their cars. I’ve seen strangers helping each other drag cars out of the ditch with only the payment of a sincere “Merry Christmas.” I have exchanged words with every single person that I have passed on the street in the last 48 hours. A woman stopped me today on Lee street and asked if I’d been to Hyperion yet because she wanted to know if the paper had been dropped off. It’s like Fredericksburg is one giant home and Hyperion is a corner in the kitchen with a coffee pot that is on and Caroline street is everyone’s front yard. As I walked back up to apartment this evening I heard a conversation that really summed up the whole weekend. A girl half a block down in the middle of the street yells,

“This whole town is going crazy!” and a man outside JBrian’s yells back,

“That’s because we’re all drunk!”

“Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas!”