Friday, February 5, 2016

Snow Angel Day

Sometimes, on a whim, you start a tradition.  Like when your friend doesn't make it through her bucket list...
this is the start of our tradition:  In 2013, when Elaine left in the early morning of January 29, she left behind a group of friends who were happy to cross SNOW ANGELS off the list... so in 2014, on January 29, we met at 6 a.m. in front of the school that we had attended with Elaine, and later, she taught, and dropped and flopped and we made art...And we have returned to the scene of the crime two more years.  Different years, different people... and then everyone coming in the school that day could have a smile and a good memory.  Last year was sooooo freeeezy cold.  This year, it was supposed to rain...but someone sent us enough snow...a little blessing for friends...  Here is part of the group...just getting started...

And before long, a whole string of beautiful angels... can you see mine?? Last year I hit my arm on a little tree...they trimmed it up so I wouldn't have that problem again...
 wow...this is what friendship looks like in a little town....

My angels are a little deeper in the seat every year, and we struggle a bit to climb up...but we have fun doing this together...  We laugh and do the front, then out back by the bus entrance... then we get ourselves out along the unplowed, untracked fitness trail, to Elaine's memorial bench and do a few more out there under the light of only the moon...sometimes a little frosty tears runs down your cheek, but it is with a smile that we do this....
And then we load up and head out to do our regular January day stuff... Renee and Willowe walk up to Bryan's to leave a couple in Elaine's yard....I stop by her mom and dad's house and leave a couple for Clayton and Avie....and then think of another special lady who is spending time with Elaine, so I stop at Howard McMullin's house and leave one in the front and the back yard for Sally, a special lady...Howard had been out in the front of the school when we were gathering, on his way to the weight room, as has been his daily routine for many, many years...I couldn't figure out which one of the crazy friends showed up in shorts until I realized it was Howard.
Here is Sally's angel...a little heavy in the seat... a bit of a drag to get out and up, but made with love..
Cuz that's what friends are all about.




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