Winter Wonderland???

Well, it looks like winter will finally be showing its ugly self this weekend – Philly is supposed to get anywhere from 5 to 15 inches of the white stuff - no, the city of brotherly love is not expecting a large cocaine shipment – I’m talkin’ about snow. Unfortunately, it is happening this weekend, because I love having a day off during the week.

However, I love snow. I love the whole snow event, especially watching it pile up during the actual storm. There is a certain peaceful feeling that accompanies it. Things seem cleaner and quieter. Sure, I’m not a big fan of the snow shoveling – I have more aches and pains than when I listen to Philly radio (not including Preston and Steve). But, it is a small price to pay for the majesty of a winter wonderland.

Man, I remember being a kid when we were getting these snow storms. Ah, the great snowball fights, wonderful sledding at Monument Hill, the days off of school - I’ve never listened to KYW radio with such passion as when I was waiting for Harry Donahue to announce the school closings and say those magical 3 numbers – 4-5-0. Sure, I probably should’ve gone right back to sleep, but I had too much adrenaline flowing through my body to even bother.

I couldn’t get outside fast enough to play in the snow. 7:30 a.m.? I better hurry - the day is almost over. I gotta build a snow fort, get into a massive snowball fight, help the parents shovel the sidewalk and driveway, and go sledding. No time to waste!

I even have a Stones memory dealing with snow (go figure!). My cousin Drew and I decided to go out and make some money shoveling snow around the neighborhood. We each made over $30 – which was a major ransom for kids our age. I had my eyes on this Stones compilation that had come out a few months earlier – it was called Hot Rocks, and it was a two cassette story of the early years of the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band (yes – I am dating my self with the part about the cassette tapes). I purchased it that day, and probably played it non-stop for 6 months or so. Of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without the snow.