Snow

Philadelphia has officially gotten more snow than any winter since record keeping of these things began.  We officially topped the last "most year" of 1967.  One big storm fell on the weekend, so I was able to help clean up.  The other one fell during the week so I could only imagine what the cleanup must have been like.  I can see evidence of the storm now that I'm back - evergreens are bent over, heavy with snow. The roads are extremely narrow.  I wondered about the squirrels.  I hope they don't bury their nuts in the ground but, instead, keep them high up in their tree nests.

The first storm that dumped 30 inches on us didn't hit New York City.  This second storm did.  It was amazing, however, to wake up in NYC and - from my 20th floor perch - wonder, "Where is all the snow?"  There was plenty of snow on the roofs of the smaller buildings.  But where was the snow on the streets and sidewalks? 

My first NYC snowstorm and I was baffled.  I was told by co-workers that there are so many steam pipes under the streets and sidewalks that it helps prevent snow accumulation.  I also noticed while walking to work that morning that even dustings of snow were being shoveled by business owners.  So, I guess between the (mostly) conscientious (and probably lawsuit adverse) business owners and the steam pipes, snow in NYC was a  non-event.

While my friends were hunkered down in Philadelphia, I wandered the streets of New York for a long time.  It was cold, but as if all of that snow I saw fall from the sky the night before was a dream.

Getting back from NYC to Philadelphia Friday night was not a dream.  A 3.5 hour bus ride (impossible traffic, not weather-related) and then the trains in Philly were extremely delayed.  At 8:10pm, I heard an announcement in Philadelphia's 30th Street Station that the 6:45pm train was just arriving.  Not what I wanted to hear.  I was exhausted by that point as I had left my NYC apartment at 3:30 for the bus.

I decided to take the subway to a location where I could catch the trolley to my house.  Thank goodness that was running.  I walked in my door around 9pm.  Ugh.

And we're getting more snow on Monday, my travel day back to NYC...