Memphis Democrat
February 5, 2004

Rachel here, reporting from a winter wonderland! While some folks are starting to get cabin fever, the accumulation of snow has thrown others into paroxysms of joy. Tamar just walks around with a big smile on her face, every once in awhile exclaiming, "It's snowing!" It has been her personal mission to get everyone out cross country skiing. She's almost succeeded. Alyson doesn't just ski for fun. It has also been her method of transportation to Rutledge to vote and to get to church.

There have been numerous sledding expeditions on the hill on the Erickson's land that we call Vista de la Moo. It's a great sledding hill, but it has the unique feature of ending in a six foot drop into the creek. Most folks stop before they go over the edge. Some sled down the bank on purpose. But I don't think Bob purposely fell into the creek! He came home wet but otherwise alright.

The thing I like most about the snow is the opportunity to see all the tracks. I find it fascinating to see where the animals go when we're not looking. This morning we found the tracks from what we believe are weasels coming up the path towards my cabin. The thing I don't like about the snow is driving in snowstorms to and from Kirksville for school. I drove back Thursday afternoon in the storm, trying to staying on the road. It was harrowing but I listened to the KMEM auction the whole way home to keep have the company of familiar voices. Thanks guys!

We celebrated Jacque's 30th, I mean, um, 25th birthday. (Just don't ask her in what year she was born.) She had an action-packed day of sledding, cheerleading stunts practice and double birthday deserts (courtesy of Alyson, Stefanie and Trish). We ended the day with a DVD of a movie made in Hong Kong, with poorly translated English subtitles to keep us laughing. It is a Dancing Rabbit tradition that on important birthdays, the birthday celebrator does a "spectacle." The spectacle can be pretty much anything, but it acts as a sort of rite of passage. Jacque performed a series of impressive cheerleading stunts with the help of Cecil, Tony and myself. What a way to face a new decade!

We were sad to say goodbye to Alline but also a little jealous. She went to California to take care of her parents for a little while. Then she is off to Hawaii to lead a Sierra Club trip. But we were also glad to welcome Trish. Trish is a former Truman student who has visited us over the years. She is going to spend the spring with us helping us build. Welcome!

With all this cold weather, we're going through our firewood faster than we expected. Some of us are afraid we won't make it until spring. If anyone has seasoned firewood to donate or for sale, please give us a call and ask for Alyson. Thanks!

Back to list of Memphis Democrat Columns