Stay warm, stay safe

by Quiet Communities Staff

Photo credit: Teju

A major snow storm is pummeling several states across the country, blanketing some communities in over a foot of snow, and elsewhere, depositing a thick crust of ice on power lines, cars and sidewalks. Drivers and staying home, public officials are canceling school and airlines are cutting back on thousands of flights. The Archbishop of Washington even gave parishioners a rare excuse  to skip mass due to the inclement weather.

The storm poses a serious threat to health and safety; many have already stocked up on non-perishable food and batteries, sealed windows, salted sidewalks, filled tubs with water and checked in on loved ones. We implore readers to stay warm and safe throughout the duration of this storm.

However, where possible, don’t miss the chance to close your eyes and listen to the wonderful, rhythmic clinking of sleet on a roof or window, or observe the quiet that descends when streets are empty of cars and vendors. There is also the occasional thump of snow falling from the bough of a tree, loosed by a gust of wind. Taken together, these sounds are a rare and sublime winter composition.