Since there has not been much exciting action or traveling these past few weeks, I decided to write about some earlier experiences that I never got a chance to describe when they happened. One very memorable week was this past January, when I brought Ediz home to Connecticut for the first time. He had already met my parents on several occasions (they travel frequently to Europe, so we had seen them in Milan, Lyon, and often here in Monaco) but had never seen our house in the country. Of course, January is not the ideal time for a visit, considering the temperature is well under zero, and there is the constant threat of snow storms destroying travel plans. Fortunately, we arrived and left without problems, but what happened in the middle of the visit was like nothing I have ever seen before.
Serious Ice
I have grown up with snow, how can you not when you live in a place like Connecticut? The best part of it was always running downstairs to check the TV for school delays and cancellations, and when seeing that blessed line reading “Region 12-Cancelled”, giving a gleeful cry and running back upstairs to jump in the warm bed. Ediz however, coming from Istanbul, did not have so much experience, save a few flurries in the winter, and during the years he was living in Germany. Imagine his shock when one morning we woke up and saw the most amount of snow either of us had ever seen! At least two feet must have fallen over the night, completely covering our cars and the entire lawn. From our perch on the second floor, we looked out the window and could not tell the where the ground was, everything was just white. “Wow” he said, never having seen that amount of snow in his life before. I agreed, neither had I!
Dad prepares the morning fire
We piled on our layers and layers of clothes (our 200-year-old Victorian house is not especially good at heating itself in the winter) and shuffled downstairs where my dad was busy making the fire in the wood stove. At least the kitchen was warm. We shed our layers and made some breakfast and coffee (the unbeatable cappuccino made in my Dad’s antique machine) and settled down at the table. The snow had stopped for the moment, but huge chunks continued to fall off the trees every time the wind blew. It was completely silent outside, for no cars could even drive on the road. Even our little Jack Russel, Mojito, was afraid to step off the porch because he would sink to the bottom of the snow and be buried!
When we finished breakfast, just getting warm and cozy sitting next to the fire (Ediz was really enjoying the country life), Dad clattered into the kitchen in his red ski parka and white hat, two shovels in hand. “Ediz, my boy, Time to get to Work!” and he handed him over the shovel. Not the typical way to treat your guests, but then again my dad is not really a typical man. When there’s work to be done, someone has got to do it, or so he reasoned. Ediz was thrilled, however, and jumped up to go get ready. He came downstairs minutes later, dressed in his new “CT Gear”, a Northface jacket, snow boots, hat and gloves. Unfortunately, he did not have pants, and was forced to wear his jeans. He took the shovel and followed Dad outside. I stayed nice and warm in the kitchen, sipping my coffee and reading the newspapers.
Ediz at Work
Three hours later, Ediz emerged from the white abyss, dragging his shovel and soaked thigh-high with melted snow. He was sweating and rosy-cheeked, and with a great smile. “Wow what a workout!” he exclaimed, unzipping his treasured Northface and hanging it over the chair. He had shoveled half the driveway, and was extremely proud of his work. Dad burst in a few minutes later. “Dry yourself out, have another coffee and let’s get back out there, we have the studio to do!” and he disappeared in a flash, grabbing a power bar on his way out. “You’re not too tired?” I asked, after all, this was supposed to be our relaxing vacation. “No!” he exclaimed, “I love it, its amazing!” and with that he finished off his coffee, zipped up his not-quite-dry jacket and headed out again, shovel in tow.
Mojito Looks Nervously at the White Abyss
Apparently, our studio just across the street was close to collapsing due to the three plus feet of snow accumulated on top of the roof. It was Ediz’s new job to climb on top and remove all this troublesome snow. For the next three days, while we were taking ballet class underneath, we could hear him busy at work, shoveling and heaving, with large pieces of snow flying down every few minutes. There was no way I could make him take class on vacation, but working hard manual labor was a pure pleasure. When he finally cleared the roof, he was off to the hardware store to devise a system for catching the leaking water inside. Even after that, he was making future plans for the summer to completely renovate the roof.
As the snow settled down, the blue sky returned, and Connecticut returned once again to its normal routine, Ediz looked to his next challenge: Chopping Wood. He was sure getting a true country experience, and loving every minute of it. I warned him that when we come back in the summer, it would be a whole different picture. Then, rather than shoveling snow, there was no doubt Dad would keep him busy the entire day weeding and planting his massive sunflower garden. I know we are both looking forward to it already!
After a hard days work...Cozy by the fire!
