Dear Mother Nature, Please Stop Picking on Us

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/October-snow-tricks-Northeast-leaves-3M-powerless-2243862.php#photo-1712844

I'm not sure when I lost my sense of humor over this year's weather. Was it after the June 1st tornado that left us without power for 2 days right before we boarded a plane for Florida? Was it during the July 26th microburst that left us without power for another two days? By the time yesterday's unusually early snowstorm hit Western Mass, I had my fill of extreme weather. 

With 10 inches of snow, downed power lines and fallen trees, we've already been without electricity for over 24 hours, and National Grid hasn't been able to provide us with an update on when power will be restored. I'm sitting at my in-laws' house in a neighboring community--which was also hard hit, and yet, has power. The front yard is littered with broken branches. A medium-size tree crashed through the roof of their shed. I feel like drafting a letter to Mother Nature:

Dear Mother Nature,

Thank you for your most recent gift of an early snowstorm. The lack of electricity and heat are greatly appreciated. The blessing of snow-covered tree limbs, some of which were hanging in the middle of my driveway and front yard this morning, looked so lovely as I struggled to shake the wet globs of white off them so I could make it into the garage. I especially enjoyed that branch that swiped my upper lip.

I'm sure you were merely thinking of how much I was bemoaning my lack of exercise lately. Using the hand saw and hauling five trees into the woods certainly gave me that much needed workout.

While Western Massachusetts has certainly appreciated your generosity this year, perhaps other parts of the country are feeling a bit lonely.  We don't mind sharing your gifts.

Fondly,

Cheryl