The Snow, part 3

There’s so much more to the story of our trip to The Snow, little sweetheart - the amazing holiday house, the epic dinners we made for everyone, riding snowmobiles, watching the snowfall overnight until we’d gotten 60 inches in 36 hours, the incredibly moving and thoughtful speech your father made at dinner that first night to welcome me - and I’ve detailed it as I continue work on our story. But briefly here I’d just like to remember a bit of our last day. 

Everyone but you and I and your parents had already begun the snowy trek home. The huge snowfall had triggered a requirement that all cars drive with tire chains. I’d lived in the snowbelt of the upper midwest and I’d never had to drive with tire chains, so that was indicative of how severe - and beautiful - the weather had been. 

The four of us sort lingered there at the house, tidying up but mostly not quite wanting to leave behind the wonderful time we’d had together. 

It was very much the first occasion I’d had to spend extended time with your folks - funny to think of now when they are the dearest people in the world to me. We talked all morning before finally packing up and headed off very slowly, snow chains and all, through the mountains back home. 

It was absolutely gorgeous, a wintry wonderland. At one point, quite high up, your dad waved at us to follow him and pull over to the shoulder ahead. I was driving your famous blue Prius, you in the passenger seat. Your mom and dad in the car ahead. We pulled over because we’d reached a point where it was okay to remove the snow chains and they actually had a crew out there who would do it for you without your having to leave the car. 

The next time we stopped, it was for gas. We’d left the mountains and it was shocking how much warmer it was, the ice and snow of Tahoe a memory - a great one! 

An hour or two later we pulled into the driveway in Davis. As your mom and you gathered a few things, your dad and I walked out into the garden and he went over and pulled two tangerines off the tree, handing me one. Ah, California! 

Later we went for dinner together before hugging and kissing them, they en route to Yuba City and we on to your apartment in the Inner Sunset. Like always, like every moment with you, little sweetheart, it had been magic. 

With all my love….