Snowbound for Christmas

It's Monday December 23, 2023 at 8:30 in the morning. My lift just dropped me off at the Portland International Airport here in Maine. I had been so excited for months to finally see my grandparents Agatha and Winston Riley. I was with my grandparents since I was three years old after my mother ran off with an old boyfriend. I love the small town of Cherry-town, Alabama. It was named for the sweet cherry orchids that grew there year around. After graduating from college four years ago to pursue better opportunities, I moved to Portland Maine. The lines were extremely long at the airport this morning. People were cursing at the customer representatives about their flights being canceled. I was disappointed also, but there's nothing they could do about the flight cancellations. All one hundred thirty eight departing flights were canceled due to the impending snowstorm. I took a seat near the restroom entrance to call my grandmother about the flight cancellation. I knew she would be disappointed because this was my first year not being able to go home for Christmas holidays.

“Hello,” said Agatha.

“Hello grandmother,” I said.

“How are you honey?” said Agatha.

“Not too well,” I said. “I won't be able to make it home for Christmas this year.

“Your flight has been canceled,” said Agatha.

“Yes, grandmother,” I said. “I'm so sorry.”

“No need to apologize,” said Agatha. It's not your fault.”

“Tell Grandpa I love him,” I said. I love you too grandmother.”

“I will sweetie,” said Agatha. I love you too be safe.”

I hung up the phone with my grandmother feeling a bit overwhelmed. I picked up my coat and luggage and headed for the exit door. My lift driver was talking to another driver and I was glad that he hadn't left the airport. He saw me waving to him and came to help me with my luggage.

“I'm sorry about the flight cancellation,” said the driver.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Are you headed back home?” said the driver.

“Yes,” I said.

He fasten my door and place the rest of my bags inside his truck. It was snowing so badly that I couldn't see out of the windows. I was so glad that I overstock with canned goods, breads, cream and cat food last week when I went to the grocery store. My grandfather would to tell me that I buy food and cook like I have a house full of people. This particular time being over prepared came in handy. The lift driver was listening to our local new station WNNT. The weather man said that Portland could be getting eight inches of snow for Christmas eve. When I lived down south, I used to pray for a white Christmas. Now that I live in Portland, I just pray for the snow to melt so I can get to work. On the ride home I was thinking about all my relatives that I haven't seen in awhile. It was a family tradition of us all getting together playing Secret Santa. Grandpa would get out one of his old hats from the closet. We would write down all the family members name on a piece a paper and drop it inside the hat. Grandma would put her hands inside to stir up all the names and let us each take turns and choose one. The limit for the secret Santa gift was only ten dollars. We would get into three cars and go shopping at the dollar store and chose gift for the person that we choose. It seems like every year I would pick my cousin David. He was a big man weighing around three hundred pounds. All he wanted me to get for him was a large box of Whitman's assorted chocolate candies. He would eat the whole box all by himself.

“We're here,” said the driver.

“Okay,” I said.

As I stepped out of the lift, my boots sank deep about a inch in the snow covered ground. The strong wind felt like ice against my warm cheeks. The snowfall had accumulated on the park cars, rooftops and trees outside my apartment. My driver took my luggage, bags from the truck and sat the m onto my porch steps.

“Stay warm tonight,” said the driver.

“I will,” I said.

Before I could get open my front door, I heard Mitzi purring. I seemed like she was glad that I came home and didn't leave her for the weekend. I used to use the kitty daycare when I go out of town, but they had gotten so expensive. My best friend Pamela would come over to check on Mitzi to make sure she was okay and had enough food to eat. I went into my bedroom and got out of the wet snow drenched clothes that I had on. Mitzi followed close behind me and curled up on my bedroom floor. The temperature in my apartment was just right. I began to yawn because the warmness was making me feel a little sleepy. I put on my kitty pajamas and fuzzy pink slippers. I had an overwhelming taste for hot chocolate and freshly baked cinnamon rolls. I went into the kitchen and took out the cinnamon rolls from the refrigerator to put into the oven. I heated some hot water in my coffee maker to make some hot chocolate. The wind was blowing so strong that a couple of iced drenched limbs had fallen to the ground. The snow poured heavily from the sky covering the ground like a delicate white cozy winter blanket. The cinnamon rolls baking inside the oven smelled better than any scented candle I ever bought. I pulled the sweet rolls from the oven and sat them on the stove top to cool. I grabbed my hot chocolate from the counter and blew inside the cup a minute before taking a sip.

“Hmm,” I said. “This hits the spot.”

I turned on the television. Flipping through channels to see if I could find a good Christmas movie. I nestled down in my soft soft and held my hot chocolate cup with both hands. I sat on the couch and watched Christmas in the Evergreens starring Holly Robinson Peete. The movie made me think about my grandparents and I began missing them all over again. Tomorrow is Christmas eve, if I was in Cherry wood I would be helping my grandmother with the ham and dressing like I did every year. I'm sure my aunt Rebekah was helping her this year. Maybe next year will be better, but you never can tell how bad the winter will get in Portland Maine. I love Maine for it's seasons. The winters are snowy and cold, while the spring is and intense time of transition. The summer's are warm and sun filled with long days. Autumn in Maine is known for it's crisp weather and kaleidoscopic colors. Even though I miss home, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than where I'm right now.