Bing Crosby famously sang of “Dreaming of a White Christmas,” and it’s something some of us still do, despite how much of a hassle it brings with it in our adult lives.
Seriously, we can all go back to our childhoods spent here in the Northeast and remember days of hurdling snow drifts with a bright orange plastic toboggan in hand. Of course, that was the extent of our day’s plans. If our 11-year-old selves used a daily planner or had Siri scheduling our appointments, oh how the day would read:
December 25:
7 a.m.: Look out window.
7:05 a.m.: Open presents.
7:07 a.m.: Finish playing with toys.
7:08 a.m.: Snow-related activities
Cancel rest of appointment.
Oh, we could go into more detail as to what “snow-related” activities would be. And, for the adult mind, perhaps we ought to clarify that it has nothing to do with clearing the white stuff off the steps, shoveling the driveway or cursing at the snowblower. Nor are we suggesting that our 11-year-old selves had to worry about finding the hot water bottle to later soothe that cranky lower back of ours. No, because, that wasn’t what Bing was singing about and we didn’t have to worry about lower back pain in fifth grade.
Wow. Being an adult on Christmas Day kind of stinks when you think about it. The practical reasons as to why you and I were likely not dreaming of a White Christmas was exactly why, when witnessing the town highways departments hustling through our local streets to clear off the roads, we were astonished.
Highway crews were up early and worked diligently to clear off what Albany International Airport reported as more than six inches of snow on Christmas Day. For some of us, that meant being able to keep to our travel plans to see family and friends. And, for that, we give thanks.