The full moon in February was known as a “Snow Moon.” Do you suppose there is any connection with this February having the most amount of snow of any February? (February 2019 was also second in the most snow fallen for any month.)
The last Sunday in January I saw a group of snowmobilers by the trail just east of Central Freeborn Lutheran Church. They were stopped by a campfire, enjoying a meal of hot dogs, beans, and roasted marshmallows. I stopped and talked to them. They invited me to sing along to their campfire song, “Let it Snow.” So I did, and it did snow!
As many of you know, according to the Chinese, this is the “Year of the Pig.” (Have you seen the pretty pink pig on the west side of the street at the junction of Hammer Road and Bridge Street in Albert Lea?)
According to Sons of Norway in Albert Lea, this is the “Year of the Winter Cancellations.” As a Norwegian, I most certainly agree. For example: we’ve cancelled our family Christmas party twice. I’ve cancelled three fishing trips. Genie and I cancelled our trip to the Eel Pout Festival in Walker, MN. Genie and I were delegates to two Lutheran events three Sundays in a row that were cancelled. We’ve cancelled medical appointments, plus other appointments. No school for nine days in a row. Twice Genie and I didn’t leave the house for three days and four nights. No mail as delivery was cancelled before our great mailman lady, Chris, left her house one morning. According to Chris, that was the first time of cancellation before she left home. According to the medical profession, we were in an epidemic of cabin fever.
On the positive side: the weatherman on Channel 6 TV’s great words of comfort were, “Hang on, we’ll get through this.”
Every used snow blower and snowmobile that was advertised in January or February sold at a premium. According to President Trump, the groundhog was another example of “fake news.” Thus, we knew of the coming of the usual spring snow storms. Spring is exactly one week from the date of this column, with some migratory birds also arriving on that date.
One of the mornings of Genie and I not going anywhere, the cabin fever really affected our thinking. Genie removed her cell phone from the charger and let the phone lie. She announced she would get up when someone called her—so I did—and now I’m in trouble.
P.S. In case you’re wondering, the long-range forecast for the rest of March is, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!”
P.P.S. In the modern world of texting, “CCF” is used in regards to the “Catastrophic Cabin Fever” epidemic you and I experienced!
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in Vermont. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.