The news that the governor of Minnesota closed much of the state due to dangerous cold brought me back, back to the mid-nineties. Then, dear reader, I was a high school student and school was cancelled several times in what was deemed a ‘snow day’ but was really an “it is so cold it is dangerous for you to wait outside for the bus” day. As I recall these days always started out as two-hour delays (i.e. one tired teenager was already showered and ready to go to school by the time the announcement arrived and it seemed silly to go back to sleep and ruin one’s hair) that were then turned into a full-fledged day off from school.

In all honesty, there are a lot of memories of high school that aren’t so pleasant. Those snow days weren’t so bad. What could be bad about a day that included The Price is Right and catching up or getting ahead on homework (yes, I was that kind of student)?

As a California girl through and through (I’ve spent the most years of my life in California, some of you readers may not even know that I could claim Minnesota as a part of my origin) I feel for those of you living in these frigid conditions. I hope that you and those you love are staying warm.

I’m off to go re-apply my sunscreen.