My hoodie on a chilly day and a federal officer from the airport

I honestly didn't think of the possibility of a connection between my hoodie and the federal officer from the airport who helped me out Saturday, June 1 until I started writing this post. 

Reminding myself that I live in Minnesota, I grabbed a hoodie on my way out when I went grocery shopping. It was early evening and sure enough temps were in the 50s, and the wind was raw.

I paused long enough when exiting the supermarket to put my hood up and tie it under my chin. I anticipated scornful looks from fellow Minnesotans dressed in shorts and Tees and although turning blue, pretending not to notice the cold.

Surprise! On the way to my car in a nearby handicap slot, I got lots of smiles and even a couple of, “Can I borrow your hoodie when you’re done?”

I only recently acquired a handicap parking permit, and I’ve not yet become accustomed to the eagerness with which well meaning folks dash over to help me move my groceries from cart to car trunk - that’s a chore I’m capable of handling myself, especially when I’m dressed appropriately for the weather – with my hood up and all. 

Caught off guard, I’ve said something like, “Well, if you really want to?”

It happened again yesterday. And I didn’t notice until she had almost finished that my latest determined rescuer was wearing what looked like a police uniform. “Who are you with?” I blurted out.

“Oh, I’m a federal officer out at the airport,” she replied.

“What the heck are you doing here?”

Grabbing my empty cart and heading toward the store, she said, “I needed groceries. Have a nice day!”

“You, too!” I shouted into the wind.

Btw, it’s 53 degrees F in St. Paul this morning, and a thunderstorm is predicted. If you go out, you might want to wear a hoodie...

How about a thunder snowstorm to mark the first day of spring?

Photo by V. Bergman

Temps in St. Paul are hovering just above freezing this morning, and rain is predicted; it may be the first day of spring, but this typical March weather invites a thunder snow storm. With that in mind, I’m reposting a column I wrote for my community newspaper a couple of years ago when I lived in Woodbury, Minn. 

 

 

The Month of March: behold the epic struggle 

 

It must have been early March some years ago in Ohio when a loud crash of thunder awakened me in the middle of the night.

My children were just toddlers then and moments later, I heard my daughter Jean scamper across the floor above me. My son Steve, the younger of the two, plodded after her.

Rushing upstairs to check on them, I stopped short near the top step; they stood side by side, gazing out the window in Jean’s room.

Suddenly, Jean turned around. In her bunny rabbit pajamas, her hands on her hips, she said, “Mom, you are ‘be-sturbing’ us.”

Apologizing, I joined them at the window. It was snowing — large, fluffy white flakes. Lightning flashed, and thunder rumbled in the distance.

March is the month when winter and spring customarily collide in their epic struggle. Even in Minnesota, spring usually wins.

Here in Woodbury, I watch the drama unfold again, hoping as always to see another thunder snowstorm.

My neighborhood is a small island of fields and woods, nearly surrounded by freeway traffic. Despite the sound effects, I enjoy the illusion of country living.

Having grown up in the country, I’ve long been attuned to seasonal changes in hours of daylight and darkness, weather patterns, and landscapes and skyscapes.

Beyond my windows, trees and bushes dance in the wind. Sometimes, three or four deer romp across the fields as if at play.

Birds dart and soar across a wide expanse of sky.

After an ice storm I once saw what appeared to be a large hawk clawing for a foothold on a slippery power line. He gave up in a huff, shook himself, and circled upward.

The simple pleasure of looking out the window whenever I choose to each day has been a big plus since my retirement from fulltime work.

For several years, I’d been confined in a building 40 hours a week where only the privileged few had desks near a window, and yes, I felt deprived.

Among other gifts, a glimpse of the natural world now and then offers continuity to distant times and places.

Fiery evening light in Woodbury transports me to Doheny State Beach in southern California, where I’ve watched Catalina Island rise from the sea, back lit by the setting sun.

Local sunlight occasionally fades into a golden glow across the otherwise bleak landscape near Amarillo, Texas where I spent five months in tech school, completing the second phase of basic training in the United States Air Force (WAF).

Once in awhile, I find myself standing again on the banks of the wide Mississippi near St. Louis where I’ve seen the sun both rise and set.

Returning home to Woodbury from my imaginary wanderings, I feel connected to family and friends.

Wherever we are in the present moment, the same earth turns beneath our feet, and familiar stars and planets keep us company on our cosmic journey.

And you can bet on it, if a loud crash of thunder awakens me in the middle of the night anytime soon, I’ll not roll over and go back to sleep.

Without turning on the lights, I’ll slip out to the kitchen to sit by the window and watch the fireworks.

I won’t be the least bit surprised if a couple of wide-eyed toddlers get there before me. I’ll try hard not to “be-sturb” them.

“Winter Blasts Into the North Country” (video)

Photo by V. Bergman

The sun is breaking through the cloud cover in St. Paul this morning even though dangerously cold wind chill temps are in the forecast. We’re looking at –25 to –30 degrees.

Unbelievable.

I drove to church Sunday morning in the rain. It stayed above freezing long enough for me to stop at the supermarket on my way home. Today it’s warm and snug in my apartment as I watch the video “Winter Blasts Into the North Country” and congratulate myself for stocking up with groceries and other necessities ahead of the severe weather.

Sara Palin Prepares for Prime Time Debut in St. Paul

In today's Washington Post, Julie Eilperin and Robert Barnes report on Sarah Palin's extensive preparations for her speech this evening at the Republican convention in St. Paul

“By all accounts Palin has thrown herself enthusiastically into preparations for her prime-time debut as well as for her first campaign trip without McCain, expected to be next week. On Tuesday afternoon, she practiced her first run-through of the speech before an audience that included strategists Steve Schmidt, Nicolle Wallace and Mark Salter, who all offered suggestions.

‘"She's very engaged, she's very enthusiastic,’ said Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella, who has attended some of the briefing and speechwriting sessions. ‘She clearly wants to absorb as much information as possible.’”

The Post article adds:

“In the speech, Palin is likely to emphasize her areas of policy expertise -- particularly energy and political reform -- rather than focusing on her biography or gender. An initial version of the address, which speechwriter Matthew Scully started crafting a week ago for an unnamed male vice-presidential pick, included plenty of attacks aimed at Democratic nominee Barack Obama along with ample praise for McCain, aides said. But they said Palin's speech will focus more on substantive matters.”

Read the article in its entirety here.

Republicans Convert a Partisan Celebration into a Wholesale Relief Effort

The Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN, site of the 2008 Republican Convention.

Kate Seelye at the Caucus (NY Times) describes the turmoil Gustav is causing in the Twin Cities, host of the Republican Convention scheduled to start tomorrow.

Seelye writes:

“Convention in Turmoil 6:11 p.m. Gustav may be threatening the Gulf Coast with devastating physical force, but it has already thrown the political world gathered here in St. Paul and Minneapolis into turmoil.

“Officials say this is the first time that a convention has been disrupted by a natural disaster. And it is shaping up as a major test of the McCain campaign as to whether it can hold this gathering together or whether it will fall apart at the seams. After an extraordinary political season and a 20-month primary, it is even possible now that John McCain, the man of the hour, won’t come at all.

“Mr. McCain, who seemed to learn the lesson of Katrina long before Gustav materialized, is doing everything he can to avoid a split-screen image between his party and devastation in the Gulf.

“And organizers here are now fully engaged in converting this convention from a partisan celebration into a wholesale relief effort. They have established information centers, are pulling their political commercials, have chartered a DC-9 to take Gulf state delegates home, and, perhaps most importantly, are portraying Mr. McCain as the commander in chief who is calling the shots — and calling for “action.”

“One question now is whether delegates and other support personnel will decide that this is a big downer and leave. The media spotlight has shifted to the Gulf Coast and is likely to remain there for several days. There won’t be much chance for partisan showmanship, and they may decide they can just as easily write their checks for emergency aid from home.

“The organizers are trying to put the best face on things but they are also lowering expectations. Rick Davis, Mr. McCain’s top aide, urged those who are scheduled to speak to stay, even as he couldn’t promise that they would get to speak.

“At the same time, Mr. Obama is not ceding the roll of commander to Mr. McCain. He has just spoken with Michael Chertoff, the secretary of Homeland Security. He also spoke with Louisiana officials and has conducted phone interviews with radio and television stations in New Orleans and encouraged residents to heed the calls to evacuate.

At this point, Mr. Obama is still keeping his schedule, with an event planned in Michigan on Monday. And Joseph R. Biden Jr. is still planning on appearances in Pittsburgh and Scranton.”