I live in Virginia. It’s supposed to be winter here, but someone forgot to tell Madame Winter. There has been no snow. No skiing. No bundling up, no blustery days. Sure, that also means no salting the sidewalks or scraping the windshields, but come on, in her absence, it’s been so warm here we had cherry blossoms blooming. In January. That’s just wrong, people.

Then, this morning, I got up, went out to get the paper…and it was cold. See your breath cold. Tip of my nose cold. Really wish I’d checked before running outside in my boxer shorts and t-shirt and bare feet cold. I was in shock. I stood there, staring at the sky, trying to register this numbing sensation that was rapidly taking over me. It was like, you know, winter or something.

Then, I opened the newspaper, and there, in the upper corner, where they have that little box that tells you all about the weather, it didn’t say “record breaking warmth continues.” No. It said…”Possible Snow Showers. Storm on Sunday.”

Snow Storm!! Really?? I danced. I sang. It’s like this Pavlovian Response. Ever since I was little, “Snow Storm” equaled “No School.” And No School equaled Free Day To Goof Off. Now, I’m not in school any more. I’m a grown up with a job. But my job is here. Under my roof. My commute is down the hall. So, technically, every day is potentially a Snow Day if I wanted it to be. Who would know?

But it’s not the same, just saying “I’m taking a Snow Day.” And, technically speaking, if it snowed ten feet, I could still go to work. Bunny slippers don’t need de-icer and my carpet gets great traction. But, honestly, Snow Days? Real, honest to goodness Snow Days? It begs for the curl up on the couch, fix some cocoa, read a book, watch old movies, flip through magazines and in general disconnect from the entire world for a whole day – and here’s the most important part – guilt free. Because, it’s a Snow Day. Even the government closes down on Snow Days. And it’s okay to goof off. It’s like signed permission slip from Mother Nature to play hookey.

So, I’m gearing up for my very own Snow Day. No, I am not at the stores with the rest of the hoards, buying toilet paper and milk. I am lining up my cocoa mug and marshmallows, carefully selecting my DVD’s, going through the stack of magazines that have somehow over taken my coffee table, and carefully choosing the books I’ll be diving into on my glorious, time-out-of-time Snow Day. It might only be a 24 hour reprieve from life, but it’s mine, and it’s magical, and I’m making the most of it that I can.

I might even go out and make snow angels. (Right after I pretend I’m holed up inside working and haven’t noticed it snowed so my nice hunky Coca-Cola commercial looking neighbor shovels my walk for me, which I might possibly avidly observe as I sit by my window with my cocoa. What? You have your winter scenery, I have mine.)

What would you do with a Snow Day?