Morning everyone!!! (well, it’s almost noon here, so perhaps “good afternoon” would be more appropriate!

OK, NOW it’s 12:32 AM!!! I’m workin’ on a deadline here!!! hahahahaha All these posts from me are a good sign…I’m feeling well, I have lots to share, and I have the energy to do it (thanks, in part, to the Prednisone). As you can tell from the title and the photos, it snowed today!!! The weather people called for snow, but I didn’t want to believe it until I saw it, so every time I used the bathroom last night, I looked out my blinds, peeking beneath the bottom to see if there was anything going on weatherwise. Nada. Then my mom came in around 5:45 or 6 to help with my iv (well, basically she does it herself in the AM and I just lie there and talk in my sleep…I mean, I might as well be asleep, because I’m no good at that hour….not at this point yet! Who knows? Maybe someday)!

Anyway, she woke me up earlier than usual because she saw the snow and knew I’d be excited. We had also both heard some crazy thunder—-two huuuuge claps of it! I’d never heard that before with snow. She came in my room, I ate some pumpkin bread, took some photos, stared at it (the snow, not the pumpkin bread) in awe for a while, and went back to sleep. I know I must sound like a little kid to some of you, but there will always be something magical about snow, and it’s always good to bring out the kid in you (after all, isn’t that the function of the hula hoops too?). I think my dad and mom always made sure we enjoyed all weather, so I must have them to thank. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for dressing me up in my rain gear when I wanted to play in the rain (but for advising against it when I still wanted to go out when it was lightning), and for taking us all on walks in the snow. Even though the layering up of warm clothes and the tearing off of wet ones seemed annoying, in the end, some flushed cheeks and slightly cold extremeties always reminded us of the exhilaration of being alive!

Yes, I’m still talking about snow. I just wanted to add that one of my favorite memories (and I have soooooooo many) is of sledding in our backyard. We have a gully that is the perfect hill for sledding, and all the kids from the neighborhood would wind up on sleds with a big black Newfoundland (my first dog, Thunder) running behind them to snatch their hats. Afterwards, we would come inside and warm up by the fire while Mom dried our wet clothes and served fresh (made in a pot with milk, not a microwave with water!) hot chocolate.

Don’t you feel cozy just reading about that? Well, my mom and I decided to stay in today instead of running some errands we had planned to do. It was relaxing and perfect. I am so lucky that Mom and I can enjoy such companionable silence while commenting on our different activities whenever we feel necessary. Mom, I’ve had fun living out here with you! Maybe that’s one of the things that makes me a little sad sometimes. I mean, I know I’ll still live with you in Virginia, and I can’t wait to see everyone, but it’s rare that a mother and a child get the opportunity (well, I guess I shouldn’t refer to it that way, but it’s mostly been enjoyable so I will!) to spend so much time together at our ages. I think we make a good team, and I seem to have a hard time expressing myself to you verbally about how much you mean to me, especially now—it kind of comes out as if it were just an aside, when really you made this fun for me, the way you touch everyone’s life with fun and humor and kindness. I’ve enjoyed our “semester abroad” as you call it, and I’m excited to reunite with everyone at home, but I just want to make sure you know I love you more than the whole wide world, and even when I tease about driving or snap about something stupid or I get focused on blogging or organizing or whatever it is at the time, I love you. I appreciate your patience, guidance, stories…I appreciate and truly enjoy your company. I don’t know how many daughters can say that, but I hope it’s a lot. You are joy wherever you go (unless it’s to park in the Pete Gross House!). I love you and I thank you.

I guess I didn’t realize how much that was upsetting me, and it feels good to share it. Aw, man…I just wrote some more touching stories on my blog and the internet went out and didn’t save it!!!!

I’m getting pretty sleepy now, so I’ll do my best!!! My mom and I enjoyed our day; we rested and stayed cozy in the morning and then we ventured out for a walk in the afternoon. It was beautiful, but cold!!!!! According to my research (via internet and Seattleites), snowfalls like this happen maybe once every couple years or so. Lori suggested I make a snow angel, and I had full intentions of doing so, until my mom pointed out I don’t have any snow pants. hahahaha That would have been funny!! So we opted just to walk “Carol and Julie’s Way”, and we stopped in “Vivace’s” so I could enjoy a deeeelish hot chocolate. Then we walked slowly across the street, arm-in-arm, to REI. I wanted someone to take a picture of us from the back to get us arm-in-arm in the snow, but my mom said they’d probably steal my camera. We’ll try and get another one of these days! We did get cute new snow hats, and my mom got a matching scarf and some awesome gloves. Who knew we needed all this out here?!!

Think good thoughts for this weekend though because my friend, Gobind is coming with his mom, Dr. Sethi tomorrow. Laura was supposed to come tomorrow, but her throat was bothering her, so luckily Mom was able to switch her flight ’til Sunday. Either way, think good thoughts that everyone will get here safely! I love the snow, but not when it starts adding stress to travel.

I can’t remember if I told you my favorite Christmas song is “O Holy Night”. I had requested the a capella group to sing it at the party last week, but they were told to stay away from religious songs. I was hoping last night, the group from the Seattle Men’s Choir would sing it too, but it was not meant to be. Then just as I was falling asleep to the sounds of the all-Christmas radio out here, guess what came on? Yup! “O Holy Night” and I drifted off to sleep a happy listener.

Here’s another good song that my Aunt Nancy forwarded me…this lady is quite talented!! I love the music! And speaking of music, I’ve been thinking of “Murphy’s Irish Pub” in Old Town a lot lately….maybe because we usually go there this time of year. I miss the music, the singing, the revelry, the cider and of course the cheese sticks (that goes without saying!). I know I won’t be allowed in there for a while, but I am certainly looking forward to the day!!!!! And then it’s on to an Irish pub in…………Ireland!!! Still my goal!!

OK, I’m off to bed. Enjoy the song and the photos!!

Lots of love from snowy Seattle,

Julie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdHR12lPcgI&feature=related