Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Despite the day of green we're covered in white (another snow storm) here in Virginia. In nearly late March. The Federal government is shut down again. Blogger is fighting me and won't let me add photos to this post. Grr.

Today I thought I'd take Jennifer Boykin's advice from "Life After Tampons"  and "quit (my) bitching. Change (my) life."

So, instead of the post I'd planned or a rant about the snow, I thought I'd list the top 10 things I like about having yet another snow day.
1. I get to work in my sweats.

2. I don't have to drive three or more hours today.

3. I get to have a snowball fight with my boys and even up the score from last snow day!

4. My husband isn't running off to court and I get to see him while there's still daylight.

5. My husband made me an omlet for breakfast.

6. The animals:  Pips (our youngest horse) did not colic and has fully recovered from his upset tummy, Blue (our arthritic black lab) loves the snow and she was jumping around like a puppy in the snow drifts and  Chewie (our dumber than a post Boxer-mix) got to wear his puppy jacket and played in the snow.

7. I "don't have to" and everyone accepts that answer since they "don't have to" (get to the office , go shopping, or anything else we usually label as a "should" item) because no one is going anywhere today.

8. The Price is Right is on.

9.  There's a fire in the fire place.

10. I get to roast marshmallows and watch a movie with my sons.

Okay, so maybe the snow's not all that bad. Even in Virginia. In mid-March. Without photos in this post.

"I Get Knocked Down...

…but I get up again. You’re never gonna keep me down.” – Tubthumping by Chumbawamba.

 

Tubthumping has become my theme song for the last six months or so. Why? Well, that doesn’t really matter. I’ll not engage in a pity party here other than to say that I’ve been off balance since October and every time I think I’m getting my feet other me again another blow falls.  Amidst this chaos have also been amazing moments of light and joy. Welcome to the roller coaster that is my world.

What have I learned from my own trials over the last six months and watching friends and family struggle through depression, illness and death?

Chumbawamba had it right. You gotta get up again.  Even when part of your brain is calculating how fast you need to drive to hit that tree hard enough to overcome the car’s safety devices. Death is the only finish line. The later you cross it, the better.

Even if you didn’t watch the Olympics you probably saw news coverage or heard someone talking last month about Jeremy Abbott's fall.  On his very first jump his plans all went horribly wrong and he fell to the ice. Despite hitting the wall, hard, despite lying immobile for several seconds, despite his coach seeking to bring him back to the sidelines to get medical attention and despite rising with clearly injured ribs – Jeremy Abbott got up and skated on. He nailed the rest of his performance and ended up in the number one position for that point in the competition. Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last. But he got up again.

He’s a champion and a role model I’m proud to point out to my kids and believe in myself. He got up again.

Sometimes that’s all we can do.

We stumble and land wrong. If we are really lucky there are people who love us and won’t let us fall. Sometimes though we have to find it in ourselves to catch ourselves and get up when we fall.

Failure teaches what not to do. Learning what not to do leads to progress. Ultimately, progress leads to success. Falling doesn’t keep you from being successful. Giving up and not getting up does.

So, for now, I’m keeping Tubthumping cranked.

I get knocked, down but I get up again

You're never gonna keep me down

I get knocked, down but I get up again

You're never gonna keep me down

I get knocked, down but I get up again

You're never gonna keep me down

I get knocked, down but I get up again

You're never gonna keep me down

Then again maybe I'll just defy gravity.

To see Jeremy’s performance and interview about the fall, please check out:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/jeremy-abbott-perseveres-after-hard-fall-mens-short-program?ctx=olympic-journey

Always get up when you fall.