(Not) Dreaming of a White Christmas

Here in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) we are always hoping for a White Christmas. Winters here are dark and gloomy -- SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, is quite real: I've seen people move away rather than face another PNW winter; it's the price we pay for our gorgeous Seattle summers. So snow almost is always welcome despite the trouble it brings: snow&ice and steep hills do not mix well.

This year will be something like the third I've seen a white PNW Christmas in my quarter-century here, and it will be by far the worst of any PNW snow season. A lot of our parishioners have already been snowed-in (unable to get out and about), as noted in this blog, and this morning there is a major snowstorm in progress. I am not even sure that this household is getting out this time, and we seem to have been the most mobile household in the parish.

Poor Fr. McGrath! Not only has he become rather proficient with the snow shovel, trying to keep the long church driveway clear (just helping out yesterday produced muscle aches), but nearly all the planning for this festive occasion is collapsing. The Choral Mass planned for last Sunday didn't occur because almost none of the choir were able to make it. The Greening of the Church was put off for this afternoon (it will be "Advent to the very end" someone remarked), but with this snow I suspect that won't take place. Services will still be held, though attendance will be sparse.

The snow is beautiful, but this year it carries a steep price for our parish Christmas.