Might

Started Sunday morning watching the UU service. It opened with the song I Wish I Knew How It Feels (best known as being sung by Nina Simone)--I love this song! The sermon was MLK-based, how we don't have to like the person to love the person, to love the potential they hold. I felt really good afterward, but wouldn't you know it, minutes after the service ended, a car came down the street, whistle blowing. I grabbed my parka and gear (mask, safety glasses, whistle) donned my boots and mittens and out the door I went, walk/running toward the retail area. I walked 2 blocks east, 2 blocks north, 2 blocks south. Nothing. I saw a few cars going from parking lot to parking lot, I imagine looking for the same thing I was looking for, but there was nothing, so I headed home. Asked a young man I passed if he'd seen any ICE, but he'd only heard the whistle the same time I did. False alarm. I sure hope someone didn't think that was a funny joke. Two hours later, a caravan of three SUVs with tinted windows (illegal in MN and a sure sign of ICE) went down my street, and once again I found myself donning my gear and out the door, but again, nothing. At least I got my steps in for the day.

It snowed lightly all morning into early afternoon (maybe 2") and by 2pm it had stopped, so at 3pm honey and I agreed to rendezvous halfway between our houses to bring him the soup. The roads were icy in spots, he and I both seeing people in the ditch upside down as we drove to the rendezvous site. I secretly hoped it was ICE, the idiots they are not knowing what black ice is. I told him about my Saturday, talking to the immigrant neighbor, and for some reason, honey had tears in his eyes as I told the story. I didn't want to embarrass him, so I didn't ask what that was about. As we were talking in the car, round two of the winter weather slammed the car with a big gust of wind, so we went our separate ways as the blowing snow/blizzard conditions moved in. The wind howled all night.

Today will be the coldest day of winter so far, -8F, windchill -30F as I walked. Might get above zero.

The hardy flock of robins that doesn’t migrate were puffed up and huddled in the buckthorn, breakfasting on the berries.

And it is also my birthday. I've long given up planning anything for my birthday since it is always either horribly cold or stormy or both. I am not selfish enough to expect anyone to come out to celebrate in those conditions. And honey called at 6:30am and sung me happy birthday.