The Perfect Day

 The Lake Effect Curtain Clears 

It didn't start perfectly.  Yesterday, Saturday March 10, 2012 dawned with more than just a dusting of lake effect snow.  The storm that had delivered brisk winds to the area the past day was moving up the St. Lawrence valley and the wind twisting around the low still had enough speed and chill to carry across Lake Ontario, pick up moisture and sugarcoat the hills and trees south of the city.  

At around noon, as advertised, the sky cleared, the high March sun burned the snow away and my boy Jack and I headed out for a Saturday boys' day.   Running errands here and there we stopped to have a double cheese with grilled onions at Five Guys.  Now that's a good burger.  Not quite as good as the Wahlburger in my humble and never sought opinion but pretty darn good just the same.   Jack and I then took an armload of my new book, Route 15 to Gettysburg, over to the local Barnes and Noble.   Calling on the store manager, we requested that the store display the books in their local authors section.  She was more than accommodating and, in fact, pointed out a way to get B&N on board as a distributor.   That, I shall do.

Jack and I returned home to a cluttered house.  Mom was moving things around.  There is something about a sunny, late winter day that prompts people to clean and rearrange.    Jack and I opted to head outside and throw around a baseball.  Little League is coming up and he wanted to sharpen his dormant skills.  Our lab puppy CJ came along and played outfielder.  She's faster than any major league baseballer and made our job easier by chasing the balls we missed and bringing them right back to us, albeit with a bit of slobber on the ball.

The neighbors were out and about and our little cul-de-sac crackled to life.  The kids pulled out bikes and nerf guns, jump ropes and sidewalk chalk while the adults chatted about what a mild winter it has been.  A partner with whom I bike ride came by with his dog and she and CJ played for hours.  We headed out on the back deck for a beer and some tunes until 5PM.   He reluctantly departed for a previously scheduled appointment just as a passel of kids came around and begged for a fire.

I complied with their demands and built a roaring blaze in the fire pit.  The kids dined on hot dogs and s'mores and my wife Jill and I laughed at their antics.   An impromptu game of charades kicked up and the kids easily guessed "airplane" and "chipmunk" before another set of kids drew their attention.

Dark still comes up quickly on Daylight Savings Time eve and soon the party wound down.  No matter, they're plenty more where that came from.