From a trip to NYC.

From a trip to NYC.

I’m sitting in the basement of the General Assembly building in Richmond, killing time between the opening session this afternoon and tonight’s last State of the Commonwealth speech by Governor Kaine. Below, a nice slice of life amid a morning of procedural matters.

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”

William Arthur Ward

Now that we have dug out, literally, of 2009--that is 24" of snow--we can put aside the snow blowers, shovels and scrapers, and with a faint smell of Bengay in the air, hobble into a new decade. In taking our first tentative steps into 2010 let us remember those we have met and helped us on our travels through life; and understanding that we can achieve nothing on our own, commit ourselves to help others who we may chance to meet in our travels through the coming year.

With the snow gone, and those little aches and pains subsiding, lets take another look-- without worrying about getting to work, or with last minute shopping hanging over us, or cursing the fact that the car was just plowed in after you just finished digging it out--at the snow storm of 2009 and a few other scenes and thoughts thrown in.......

Peace on Earth. Good Will Towards Men
Fredericksburg-- Christmas has become too frantic for me. And with my children grown up, and my grandchildren about five states over, the wonder and joy that the season has brought in the past is gone. However, scenes like this remind me of Christmases past both as a child and as a parent. And soon I am also remembering what we are really celebrating.

Rooftops of Old Town Fredericksburg And A Learning Moment
This photo was taken from the top of our downtown parking deck. The deck roof was closed with police tape which I slid under. After trudging from the back corner entrance to the front corner of the deck through 3' snow drifts, and gasping for air, I began to understand the reason for the "Do Not Cross" instructions on the tape. My next thought was to wonder why I hadn't walked around to the front entrance which would have meant I would only have had to trudge maybe 4' feet to the corner where I took the photo. Well in 2023 when the next storm hits I'll remeber to enter from the front.

Welcome to Fredericksburg
Looking into downtown Frederickburg from the Chatham Bridge. You may wish to question my sanity for strolling down a main road into town with sidewalks covered and lanes restricted by snow! Fear not my friends any vehicle traveling faster than 5mph would drop there transmission after hitting the potholes farther down. It is actually safer now to walk down the middle of the bridge than drive on it.

It Doesn't Snow in Virginia

No One At Home
While we were digging ourselves out some people were away in balmy Arizona lounging around in shorts sipping exotic drinks with little thought of what their friends were going through at home. I know this because they didn't even bother sending a postcard. In Fredericksburg residents are supposed to have their sidewalks clean within 12 hours of the end of a snowfall. This photos was taken at least 18 hours after the snow ended and the sidewalk is still covered!

Festive Covering of History

Coming Home
Hanover Street in Fredericksburg, late afternoon. Three more blocks and I'm home. Home to e-mails and phone messages with questions about when streets would be cleared, complaining about the City's snow removal priorities, and providing insight in how we should have dealt with the storm. Downloading the 136 photos I took during the day would have to wait.