Winter in our neck of the woods is often mild and cloudy. Thirty to forty degrees with a dip into the twenties at night. More talk about snow than snow. When a little snow falls we get excited. The sleds come out and meager weight-reduced snowmen appear. Times are hard for snowmen in Southern Illinois. Once in a winter, we get some single-digit temperatures…we talk about them for the rest of the year.

Tonight we wait for the coming of the Ice Queen. Santa just left us and did not leave a forwarding address. The Christmas Cookie plate had crumbs but has now been washed. As MJ said if the power goes out we can watch movies we have recorded… I had a brilliant Ice Queen event thought…we will brew extra coffee and heat it up in the microwave…

Winter 1978 we had a blizzard. I had a lovely lady that I wanted to impress as I hiked the snow drifts over to her house to shovel her Ford Maverick out of the snow. It was cold, and the snow was deep. As I shoveled I knew she must be as impressed as I was at my accomplishments.

Steve and I drove to Zeigler Coal Companies offices in Johnston City. The snow was a white sheet in front of the car’s windshield. Marooned in the ditch. When we extricated ourselves we turned around for home. The road was indistinguishable from the fields surrounding it.

1979 marked another snowstorm. Having just begun at Southern Illinois University I was reluctant to not report for work amid the storm. Faye had heard on the radio that SIU was closed except for essential staff. I wondered if I was Essential? Again, the drive was akin to driving through an open field for fifteen miles. As I bumpily pulled into the little driveway in front of the Building Services Office I noticed no other cars no lights on except for a little light bulb burning next to the window. Elbert pulled in and jumped out of his car. ‘Are we open Brooks Bradley he asked’? Elbert walked boldly to the front door and knocked loudly saying, ‘Brooks Bradley and Elbert Covington reporting for duty.’ Upon being satisfied that we would not gain access he asked me to come over for hot chocolate with MJ. I thanked him and noted if I arrived home safely I would not be venturing out.

Long dry spells happen between visits from The Ice Queen.

I took some pride in my negotiation with the fearful ice. I fell the first winter of being the Superintendent of Building Services. I had my suit on and a cashmere overcoat feeling pretty…pretty…pretty good that I had made it to the top. I was a Serious Man. I was humbled and honored by the confidence administration had placed in me. Suddenly I was on my back looking up at the trees. The pomp and circumstance were knocked out of me in one ice slip.

So, confused we are as we age. Kids in old folks’ bodies.

‘Oh, the silent majesty of a winter’s morn…the clean, cool chill of the holiday air…and an asshole in his bathrobe emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer.’ Clark Griswold

‘The Shitter is full,’ Cousin Eddie shouted to Clark…