Yesterday this memory of a conversation with Mom’s Great Aunt appeared on my timeline.  It reminded me that this recent string of snowstorms may actually be a blessing in disguise.  Great Aunt Dottie is the wise matriarch of our family, and even I, brilliant dog that I am, can learn from her.  She no longer needs to worry about snowstorms in her new home.  However after living on her own for many years, she revealed that she sometimes misses shoveling, and wished she appreciated that final snow day at home.

She’s right.  One never knows when the “last” snow day will be.  I just need to look back to that last magical snow day with Lemmy to appreciate that logic.  Lemmy LOVED the snow.  The first sign of a flake and he would lose his mind.  All Lemmy needed was the thinest of dustings, and he’d be out making snow angels.  In fact from the first storm of the season to the last, his excitement only grew and never subsided in the least.  In the spring he would guard the last patch of snow in our yard, and mourn its passing.

We were blessed that fateful storm in December of 2013 to have the perfect snow day together.  Back then Mom and Dad both worked outside of our home.  Mom had snow days off, but Dad never did.  However, on that day something was different.  Lemmy was sick.  At that point we were still waiting for the test results and a proper diagnosis from the specialists.  It wasn’t confirmed until weeks later that Lemmy had an acute case of Cushing’s Disease.  But on that day in December 2013, Dad did something he never did before.  He took a snow day.

I can still vividly remember that wonderful day playing in the snow as a family.  Despite obviously not feeling well, Lemmy was a puppy again!  As for me, I really was a puppy at under the age of two.  We built the best snowman ever, played fetch, and made countless snow angels.  And I do mean we.  Even Dad and Mom made snow angels in the freshly fallen snow that day.  Little did we realize by the next big nor’easter in January Lemmy would be too sick to run, and contented himself by watching me play in the snow.

I guess what I’m saying here is although these snowstorms in March are annoying, they are a great opportunity to slow down and enjoy precious time together.  I have to agree with Great Aunt Dottie’s wise words of “aren’t we lucky” to be able to go out there and enjoy the snow.  Because you never know when it will be your last snow day.  We love you Lemmy!  I’m sure you’re playing in the snow today over Rainbow Bridge.  Say hello to Grandpa for us.