February 1, 2026
The Richmond area has turned into a giant ice sheet and there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. For over a week I have been mostly stuck at home. School systems all around are closed and many businesses are still operating on reduced hours. My job as a school librarian has been shuttered and as of this afternoon, I know we will only be open only virtually until Wednesday. Good grief!
I could easily slide into despair over the state of the world or my powerlessness over the weather. I could doom scroll all day and gnash my teeth at the many injustices going on. Except for very brief dives, I have learned to skim the news and eschew social media for the sake of my serenity. Instead of wasting countless hours on negativity, I have tried to reach out each day to a family member or friend, also marooned at home in the ice. Here and there I have seen glimmers of hope. Neighbors are helping each other out in the storm. A group of Buddhist monks are doing a walk for peace through Richmond this weekend, despite the freezing conditions. A proposed ICE detention center for nearby Hanover County has been withdrawn by the US government after large protests and a bipartisan request by the leaders of Hanover to move it out of their locale.
Whenever I grow weary of the state of the world or being stuck in my home I try to remember that I do have choices. One option is to work on acceptance and to try to be grateful for the electricity that has continued to reach our home, the food that fills my pantry and the warm radiators that keep the below freezing temperatures outside. I can write letters to my legislators and make plans to work with people who are struggling in our community. In short, I can try to change the things I can.
At the beginning of “Snowmageddon” I had a cold, so sleeping and resting were just what I needed. I made a hearty vegetable soup, including tomatoes Nick canned in September and basil he dried in August. I appreciated that I had time to heal and as a bonus did not even need to find a substitute. Despite the three inches of ice, the world outside my window was beautiful in a strange tundra-like way. When I recovered, I decided to get busy with taxes and writing. I finished all the revisions suggested by my editor and researched the next part of the book I am writing.
A week later, the world outside my window is still a frigid white landscape punctuated by pops of color from red berries and evergreens. Walking to the car or the garbage can require the skill of a professional ice skater. Feeding the birds and entertaining my three cats with cabin fever has become a full-time job. I love snowy walks, so being outside with my warmest coat and boots in the winter wonderland of western Henrico County has been exhilarating, and a bit more exciting than expected from time to time.
Truth be told, my inner introvert loves days at home with unscheduled time. I can spend many happy hours writing, reading and watching movies. I made it to the grocery store to restock, after slip sliding my way down my street to a more major road that had been cleared by VDOT. The gym reopened, so I have been there for yoga classes, weights and a chance to see other human beings. Nick and I started to make plans with neighbors for a Mediterranean cruise in 2027 and found some daytime activities to get us out of the house this weekend.
By June, when we have 100% humidity and highs in the upper 90s, I am sure I will yearn for a day of below freezing temperatures and ice. Planning for the future and appreciating what I have in the present helps me to endure the inconveniences of today. So, I will file some memories of my slippery January walks for a time when I need them, and I will remember that this too shall pass.
Mindful Musings 