"I cannot go to school today," Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I'm going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, I've counted sixteen chicken pox And there's one more--that's seventeen, And don't you think my face looks green? My leg is cut--my eyes are blue-- It might be instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, I'm sure that my left leg is broke-- My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button's caving in, My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained, My 'pendix pains each time it rains. My nose is cold, my toes are numb. I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There is a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what? What's that? What's that you say? You say today is. . .Saturday? G'bye, I'm going out to play!"
I am fairly confident that by the end of this post I will have some correlation between one of my favorite Shel Silverstein poems and the events of this past weekend. Fact is neither Finny or I was sick, but we did take pause (well I did and inferred that he did as well) when it was reported that good ol’ Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow early Saturday morning, indicating that we might just be in for an early spring. The prediction couldn’t have come at a better time as Chicago was blanketed in our first measurable snowfall that morning. And with that, it was Saturday–time to go out and play!
After a few days of sub-zero temps, I couldn’t wait to get this pup out in the snow and into his element. He is a Swiss Mountain Dog, after all. And since we confirmed early on in our relationship that humid Chicago summers and Finny do not mix, we set out for the black diamonds of Mary Bartelme Park to take advantage of some fresh pow.
I of course thought it would be a good idea to try to schedule a photo shoot during the snow play. Let me remind you that temps were still in the low 20’s with flurries and a decent wind. To say I got some good shots would be lying. I managed to catch this snow-lover’s eye for a split second and then it was back to stick-eating and ice-inhalation for the remainder of the excursion. I learned one thing though, either I don’t hydrate my pup enough or he just really loves the white stuff.
I think we can all benefit from a little poetry in our lives. A little reminder to play when you get the chance. And that spring is just around the corner. Right, Phil?
Don’t be left in the dark (too soon?) Wednesday with a round-up of Super Bowl recipes that will keep your body looking more like Beyonce and less like Ma’ake Kemoeatu.
Have a great week!
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