Dated : 9 Feb 2017
It was 7.00 am in the morning in February, a wintery month. We stay in Toronto, Canada. Here we experience the worst winter in the month of January and February. And this was my first winter in Toronto. And that year was the badly affected winter too.
I woke up from my bed and started browsing for the weather forecast. It said freezing rain. I jumped out my bed and started mumbling, "It's going to be very bad today". And my act disturbed my sleeping darling husband. He said, "Every other day you stop me going to work by your weather forecast." I looked at him and made a face. He couldn't say anything after that. He just said, "Ok fine, I will work from home today". The twinkle in my eye gave a smile on his face. I said, "Thank you" and rushed to wake up my daughter and get her lunch ready.
As I was busy with my daily chorus. I wanted to do as much work as possible before my 2 years old son wakes up. At this age toddlers generally keep mums busy. But mine was a hyper active ones. He always kept me on toes. I quickly served my daughter breakfast and asked her to get dressed.
As I was rushing to do all things my son got up.
Did his morning routine, fed him breakfast and got dressed to leave to school. As it's winter we require a minimum of 10 mins extra to dress before we step out of the house. We have to dress in layers to keep ourselves warm and cozy. My daughter said, "Mum, should I wear my snow pants". Fumes rose in my head and I said, "Yes, if you don't want your pants wet. Stop asking me stupid questions in the morning and dress up. I don't want to be late".
We waved my hubby and son bye and stepped out of the house. As we stepped out my daughter said, "Look, it's not raining. And you simply yell at me in the morning". I said, "Be happy it's not raining. Now let's reach school quickly". We walked to school and had good time talking to each other. We never get our time as my son is always between us. I always have a guilt that I cant spare much time to my older one because of the second one. We reached school, I waved her bye with a kiss on her cheeks. She loves when I give that extra special care for her. And said, "Be indoor if possible. Today the weather is bad."
Rushed back home to attend my son and cook lunch for us. Since hubby darling planned to stay at home wanted to cook a 3 course meal. This was typical womenish. Wanted to make his tummy happy as he is working from home for me. The reason he is home is, It's difficult to push a buggy and go to school and come when the weather is bad. I got busy with my work as I reached home.
It was 2 pm now. I had an hour in hand to leave to school. I peeped out of my window and it was raining rather call it drizzling. I had to put my son to sleep. If he does than my husband would monitor him at home while I go to school. If not I had to take him along. I managed to make him take his nap. And it was 2.30 pm now. I had a quick shower and dressed up to leave to school.
It was 3.05 pm and I was still thinking yes or no to take an umbrella to school. I didn't know the outside weather. But the forecast said windy, 50 km/HR. I finally grabbed one in case my daughter can use it. And stepped outside the house. The path way was cleared but I could see something glaring. Careful I placed my leg and realised it was ice. The whole pathway had freezed into ice as it was still raining. I thought this is what ment by freezing rain and walked to school.
It was slippery and careful placing my steps as I walked. I opened my umbrella so that I am not wet. Tho I was wearing a waterproof coat wanted to use umbrella instead of carrying it like a Geek. But the wind speed was too high. As I held it open I felt there was a blow. My umbrella was flying and I was trying to hang over it. I quickly folded the umbrella, didn't wanted to break a brand new umbrella which I was using for the first time, even price tag was in its place.
I walked to school now. With my umbrella hanging to my hand folded. As I walked I saw the grass it had a thin coat of ice on it like a first coat of nail paint on a women's finger. I looked at it and admired how beautiful is nature. Someone had time to coat all these grasses evenly.
I turned to cross the road. As I turned I noticed something that made stop for a minute. It was this big bush with no leaves on it. It was a dark marronish brown colour bush. I don't know which variety it belong to, me being a science student my botany was bad. That very sight attracted my eyes, my mouth went opened, saying "wow". The whole bush was coated with ice. It looked like a sculpture made of clear glass exactly in the shape of the bush and placed a bush in side it. How dramatic it looked. How wonderful was mother nature. I had a phone in my pocket, it was freezing outside, I couldn't capture a picture. At that very moment I wish I had a camera inside my eyes to capture this beautiful sight.
I started walking to school as I was late now. I passed the station car parking area. Each and every car was decorated with tiny drops of frozen dripping rain droplets like stalactite. This reminded me of my boring school day classes. How delightful to my eyes it was. Each and every car standing it a row had this tiny frozen droplets.
As I reached closer to the school I saw parents and children walking out. I knew I was late. I increased my speed and reached school. It was 3.26 pm. I was late. My daughter was the only one with her teacher waiting for me. I waved to them as I moved closer and my daughter came running to me. She said, "You are late". I said, "But". She stopped me. I thought she was disappointed and crossed as I was late. But she pointed up and gave a smile to me. I carefully lifted my head to see what it was. Mother nature you are so marvelous. As she pointed a the roof of the school, due to rain water all the flowing water had freezed and the school looked as if it was decorated for some event with long crystal chandeliers. She said, "Mum, aren't they beautiful. Thank you for getting me to Toronto to see such wonderful things. I am so happy". That made me feel more good, especially for a mum of her 8 year old.
We started walking back home. And discussed about the umbrella, showed her the beautiful trees and plants. The wires running on the street poles on the long straight road looked like streamers made up of long shinny crystal swords. Just like the one I have seen in the episodes of The game of Thrones. As the wind blew there was a jingle around. I rotated my head all the way to check where it came from. Yes, it was the melodious music made by those crystal swords. As if the road was welcoming us with music made by this natural wind chimes.
My daughter was busy saying so many things about her school and what happen. But I think my ears had gone mum perhaps I didn't wanted to hear anything apart from admiring and capturing those nature's beauty in my mind and heart.
As we walked I felt we wearing taking a walk inside a freezer. We reached home. As we were removing our coats we gazed at each other. And we screamed for my husband to come and check us out. He was busy on a call. These IT people are so busy in work there are physically present but absent. We had a thin layer of ice on our coats. It looked like they were just out from the freezer.
I quickly popped garlic bread in the oven for my hungry daughter. And my hubby had time for us. We shared our experience with him. As we took him near our window we all saw our backyards wooden fence too had decorative lights. Someone had patience to place each and every crystal, mind you all same size and shape, in a row for us. It looked like a perfect party venue. May be for a private family snack party. It was 4 pm now, I served garlic bread and coffee. We all admired the beauty of nature while we ate. But I wish I had a camera in my eyes.
Ashwini
