#winterscene – Rosalinda R Morgan

Yes, it does snow in Charleston. Not Charleston, West Viriginia but Charleston, South Carolina. Not often but it does. Today is one of those days. The last big one was in 1989, the same year they had Hurricane Hugo. It happened on Dec.22 and they got 8 inches of snow. Charleston had a white Christmas at that time. I was not here then. I was still in NY where it always snows in winter.

Right before Christmas, I was talking to somebody and I said I miss New York during Christmas season. I then added “I wish we have snow”. Be careful what you wish for!

They forecasted 4” or more. Early on, I heard the forecast was 6-8 inches. I could not believe it. I remembered we had a little dusting of snow one year and it melted within the hour. Today is different. This snow is a big event. We had freezing rain when I woke up this morning. Luckily, I still have my two ice scrapers but no snow shovel. When we left NY, my husband told me to throw my ice scrapers. He said we won’t need it in Charleston. I’m glad I kept them. I gave the long handled one with the brush and ice scraper to my son when he went to work this morning but he came back an hour later because his workplace was closed.

Just before noon, the snow started coming down and it came down hard and sideways. It looked like a blizzard. The roads are icy. Most of them are closed. There were two bridges going to Johns Island and the first one closed before 9 am and the second one just before 10 am. Now, no one can’t get in or out of Johns Island unless they walk on the bridge. I doubt if the police will allow that. So we are stuck for a few days. I have enough food in the house. I ordered some Omaha Steaks and lobster tails before Christmas but did not arrive till two days after Christmas. So I have that provision. My son made a big pot of soup the other day and we still have plenty of that. If the lights go out, we can always grill outside. I have a charcoal grill, not electric so we are fine.

Here are some photos in front of my townhouse and in back:

Early on.

An hour later, my son with his dog in front of the house.

Skipper has not seen snow before. He moved from CA with my son three years ago. He’s most likely wondering what it is.

Going for a walk.

Cool photo . . .

From my balcony two hours later looking towards Whitney Lake.

Our townhouse is a corner unit. Looking towards the street across.

My terrace with the Christmas lights and my parol (Philippine star).

Icicles from the terrace’s pergola.

Sitting by my computer, I saw this view in back, four hours later.

In the back alley, Matt’s car on the foreground, my car across the street, the gray Volvo wagon. The garbage collector did not come today so all the garbage cans are all lined up for collection. I wonder when they are coming now that they have to deal with the snow.