Part 8 will bring us to a snow coated scene in early February. Ammba and I are excited as we prepare to go to New York for Ricky's wedding. It's the night before we leave and the biggest storm in decades hits the east coast. Whether we will be able to fly tomorrow or not is yet to be seen. What is known is that a little girl who has only heard of snow is about to embark on a cold and blustery journey to a winter wonderland. The flight to Houston is a go, but its' connection to New York is not definite. So our journey begins with the adventure of a possible cancellation and staying with friends in Texas. The flight goes smootlhly and we arrive at JFK international airport around 4pm in the afternoon. Everything goes smoothly and when we hit the curb it's a snow drift over 6ft tall and snow is still flurrying around. Ammba is as ecstatic as am I, for it has been a while since New York has seen a good snow. We sure hit the jackpot. The airport shut down right after out flight landed. Our taxi ride into the city was an amazing trip through some bizarre dream like replica of our well known stomping grounds. There is something so clean and pure about a fresh snow that it feels like your first snow-day as a child. For those of you who never had a snow-day it goes something like this. You awake to hear the radio playing which in our house only happened on holidays , parties and a childs' best friend "The snow-day". So as you shuffle from your warm bed you keep you blanket wrapped around you start thinking of asking the magic question, as you would when you make a wish and blow out your birthday candles. "Mama?" She responds "Yes Jody?" Fearing to hear no as the answer I ask in as grownup a voice as I can muster "So, It looks pretty bad out there. Is Dad going to work?" Smiling she rubs my head and kneels down to say " Yes dear, your father left a few minutes ago. Gilbert just finished digging out the driveway." I nod my head saying "Oh! That's good I guess. I hope he drives safe, it can get really slippery out there you know." Putting her warm hand on my cheek she says " Yes it can honey, but your father has been driving to work in the snow for a long time now. I think he'll be alright. " Running out of things to say I finally ask "Mama? Did you hear any news about school cancellations?" Standing up quickly she puts her hands on her hips and says sharply "School cancellations! Why would there be any school cancellations young man?" Hearing the words young man I start to march to the bathroom and run the shower. As I leave I look over my shoulder and say off handedly " Just curious . I always like to be informed about the weather this time of year. It's sort of a hobby of mine." My mother follows me into the bathroom and asks me " How does cinnamon toast and tigers milk sound for breakfast? My little meteorologist" I perk up and say "Wow! That sounds like a meal for someone who might be staying home to play in the snow. What's a meteorwhatchmacallit?" Bursting out laughing she pretend scolds me saying" I have no idea what you're talking about. You had better get those thoughts of playing hooky out of that head of yours right this minute!" Now naked and jumping around singing "I'm not going to school today! I've got snowmen to build! Hey Hey!" Smacking me on my bottom she says " We'll see cotton tail now get in that shower." As I shower I strain to hear the list of delays and cancellations. Armonk middle school cancelled,Pawling high school cancelled, John Jay middle school 2 hour delay... As I dry off I keep listening and see Unc coming in kicking the snow off his boots as he opens the door to come in. Waving and pumping my arms in the air I say "Unc did you hear? I'm not going to school today! Hey Hey!!" He looks to my mother and spreading her hands she says " Well so far there's no cancellation for Bedford or Pound Ridge." Unc shoots a look at me and says " Boy! You better get that foolishness out of your head right now. I saw a bus go by just a few minutes ago." I walk over to the tuner and say"Let's check the other snow stations just to be sure I don't want you to have to wait down there for nothing." Unc chuckles to himself as he hangs up his coat. I smell hot butter and cinnamon and run to the oven reaching to open it. My mother spanks my hand and says "Jody! Be careful you're going to burn yourself. Let me check to see if it's ready." Back peddling I raise my hands and say in a pretend hurt voice "Go ahead, I was just trying to help. You always say I should do more to help out around the house." She smile and pushes me on the back towards the bathroom saying "You can help by washing your hands and sitting down to eat." I reply "Ma! Jeez! What's the sense of me showering if I just have to go and wash my hands again?" Wiping wet hands on my shirt and pants I run to the table and shove a whole piece of cinnamon toast in my mouth and say " Uhn? Yuh hink gi gontakutahay?" Mama glares at me saying "Jody, please take smaller bites and don't talk with your mouth full." I roll my eyes and concentrate on hearing the radio. I gulp my tigers milk and take a look at my dads' paper(The New York Times) I always read the Times in the morning, just like my father. The little box of small words in the upper right hand corner. If you read the Times you'll know this part to be a weather summary. I finally hear the words every little boy loves to hear " Due to extreme weather conditions school in the Pound Ridge district will be cancelled today." I jump up and down yelling " Oh Yeah! I'm outta heya" Unc grabs me and swings me up around and aims me at the kitchen where my mother is cleaning up. Landing safely I say "Can I please please please go out and play in the snow?" She picks me up and says "I don't know if you can little one, but if it's alright with Gilbert you may go out and play in the snow." I run and jump on Unc climbing him like a tree asking "May I may I may I?" Unc detatches me and puts me down gently saying in his most put upon voice "Go on and get out ta here with dat foolishness! I done had enough already this morning" I run and jump saying " I'm gettin' I'm gettin'!" That's what I remember when I think of snow-days. I got a bit side tracked here. So let's return as the taxi pulls up to the apartment. Bogdan comes out and greets us saying " This is what you bring from the Caribbean? Nice present. Hey Ammba, Jody! Welcome home!" Well this seems to be a good place to stop for tonight. I'll pick up tomorrow. Thank you and goodnight. Jody
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