Okay. So I’ve never ever been one of those people who love the cold – snow in particular. And I’m still trying to figure out why in the world I still live in the middle of the East Coast when I fell in love with California way back when my family lived there 50 years ago.

Longing for the sun, ocean and waves, I am definitely much happier when sitting near palm trees than I am layering my clothes for inhumane temperatures.  And although I fear earthquakes and hurricanes, one of these days I’m either moving to California or Florida or maybe even to somewhere in the tropics.

Long ago, I used to file ski reports for the AMI Ski Radio Networks, but in reality, I’ve only been on skis once in my life. And I had more fun on the ski lift than I did actually skiing. Real truth be told? A hot toddy laced with rum is definitely my idea of having fun in the Poconos.

So when the power went off last night in my neighborhood, just as I had boiled the water to make pasta and put the finishing touches on my dinner, I was not a happy camper. It was no fun at all! To top it all off,  there was not a cocktail to be found.

To their own glee, the kids had been out of school for three days. Just wait until June when the school calendar gets longer, I had warned them.

Earlier in the day, during the height of Philadelphia’s blizzard of the century, an old girlfriend (now a former) drove right past me and my mate Natu as we hiked through the storm to the supermarket. Never mind that I took her everywhere she needed to go when I had a car and she didn’t (and she never hesitated to call me to hitch a ride). Talk about a stinging slap in the face! She even had the nerve to speak to us when she saw us a few minutes later at the store. Needless to say, I just turned my back and stalked away in a huff.

But GOD always sends us angels when we need them most, and just a few moments later, we ran into some of our real friends who offered to take us home.

I was still in a state of pissocity when the power blew in our neighborhood later in the evening, and that didn’t help. I realized that we had no heat, just a few candles, and several bored and hungry kids along with some of their friends. However, at least I had finished cooking most of the food. But with no wine, which I desperately wanted after being pinned in with them all for the past three days, my temper was tenuous at best.

So I pulled out my favorite inspirational book called “Grace For The Moment” and read by the glow of candlelight,  today’s thought:

A MORSEL OF KINDNESS – “Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not help. Then GOD is not living in that person.” 1 John 3:17.

The biblical quote soothed my broken spirit, and I realize there’s always an upside to every challenge.

And last night, while our children giggled in the dark, Natu and I cooled out by playing “Othello” (a first) by candlelight. Looking back on the blizzard of 2010, I realize our kids were the real troopers, too, because they never complained once.

And now I know – get candles, flashlights and battery-operated heaters, and perhaps some wings so I can fly away until the spring arrives …

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