'The day it snowed and snowed and snowed ...'

I usually post this story on my dad's birthday,  

(but as things go this time of the year ...)

So without further delay,

 Happy Birthday Bob Fitzgerald 

and here is your story, 

(with a few edits in text and in the illustration from last year :)  

Enjoy!!

'The day it snowed and snowed and snowed ...'

by Virginia Fitzgerald

dedicated to my Dad,

Robert Fitzgerald

My brother and I woke to a sky full of snow, and the feel of magic in the air.

Mom was worried about a big storm, but all my brother and I saw was a day full of merriment and fun.

After breakfast, we played in the courtyard, bundled in our snowsuits, hats, and mittens. 

During lunch, Mr. Schuller, the super, came by to make sure the heaters were working and warned us that this storm was turning out to be a big one! 

Mom watched the TV, as my brother and I watch the snow. 

Daddy came home early from work. He brought some groceries and some friends who were going to stay with us since they were stranded in the city. 

Suddenly our apartment was full of adults, neighbors and friends, music and laughter. We were having a snowbound party. 

As our apartment got louder and louder, the city got quieter and quieter. The snow kept falling, blanketing the streets; no cars were moving, all was as quiet as a graveyard. 

My brother and I gazed out through the steamed-up window watching the storm subside. Daddy joined us to admire the white wonderland, and then asked if we wanted to go sledding?! 

We explode with excitement!!! Yes!!!Yes!!!Yes!!! 

Mom didn't like the idea at all! She thought it was too cold, too late, too dark.  But Daddy convinced her, as long as my brother and I promised to go straight to bed when we got back. 

We promised!!! 

And so the bundling began again, this time with extra shirts and pants and scarfs and socks.  And when we felt as if we couldn't  even move, Daddy grabbed the sled and we tottered off.

The street was so quiet and white, it felt as though we were tiny mice in a giant's castle. All around us were large looming mounds of white, the sleeping giants, casting off dark engulfing shadows, made from the bright moon beams from the towering street lamps.

As we gazed around in wonder I noticed the sidewalk had vanished under these hulking mounds. They were impassable. I thought this would end our adventure right then and there, but my dad didn't waver. 

He trudged through the snow and into the street, where it was not so deep. My brother and I had been told to never play in the street, so we hesitated. 

But Daddy waved us on, explaining that tonight was a special night, with special rules. There were no cars out tonight, in fact, nothing at all was moving so we could be in the street. 

My brother and I looked around, he was right! 

So my brother and I clamored on the sled, my brother nestled in my lap, and we were off, down the middle of Dearborn St. Warm yellow lights streamed out of every window, adorning everything with an enchanted glow. 

As I held on tight to my brother and felt the cold air on my cheeks, I heard the sleigh blades skate along the snow, my brother's quick breaths and my father's boots crushing the freshly fallen snow. 

This was pure magic; to be out so late under the deep blue night sky, to be with my dad who left his friends to be with us, and to be surrounded by such snowy quiet, in the middle of the city, with my brother safe and snug in my lap. 

Later, we clambered back up the stairs, to our apartment, with our cheeks kissed pink with the brisk winter air. And after we pealed off all of our wet coats and boots and mittens and scarves, my brother and I said our sleepy goodnights to the party. Then we stumbled in to our toasty, cozy beds. And as my cheeks and toes began to thaw, snuggled deep under my warm blankets, and I held tight to the magical feeling I had from the day it snowed and snowed and snowed.

me and my dad

the end 

my styling mom and dad at a party