For many of us, this has been quite a winter. In fact, It would be safe to say it has been the most difficult winter we have had in quite some time. I woke up at 5:00 AM on Wednesday, and I was pleasently surprised. I had anticipated having to go out a full twenty minutes early to my car, rake off the snow, make sure my mirrors were not fogged up, turn on the car, warm it up, load it up with my five thousand teacher bags and then be on my way. Due to my dislike (strong dislike) of driving in inclimate weather I was feeling pretty good. No snow. Clear Roads. Middle of the Week. Life is good. 

Just for fun, I thought to myself, I am going to check the radar. Well sure enough, I do not know what prompted me to do so, but I looked at the radar on my laptop and rubbed my eyes twice. What I saw coming was not what I saw outside. A giant storm? Really? 3-5 inches? In 30 minutes? I did some research. Mainly, I looked at the WPXI school closings and noticed my soon-to-be sister in law's school was closed. I thought to myself, well that is just extreme. I see the radar, but there is absolutely nothing on the ground. Time passed, I got dressed and 6:00 rolls around. Still no snow. 

I opened the drapes fifty times-sometimes like how I open up the fridge hoping I will find new snacks each time- then I remember that I did not go grocery shopping. No new snacks. Yet, it still feels good to open that fridge. I began frantically texting my friends, colleagues and notice we now have a two-hour delay. Really? I'm thinking to myself, I have some super exciting lesson planned today, and we are thinking of closing school when not one drop of snowflake has hit the ground? Unbelievable. 6:20 rolls around and I notice the change in the sky. A few flakes begin to fall, and I realize, this is going to be bad. You may have had this experience before, but sometimes you can tell it is going to pile snow on the ground just by looking at the sky which turns an ominous white/gray color. I wait, text my colleague from work, and wait again. At 6:40, the roads are already becoming pretty bad, and I get the go-ahead to head to work. It looks like we may not close. "You should leave!" This is the text I receive from my friends. 

As I am on my way to work I think of a couple of thoughts to cheer myself up. Luckily, it seems I may be one of the only ones trying to get to work (most were smart to follow the yellow brick road that leads right to the couch.) 

I pull right into the parking lot, I'm exasperated from the drive, and I realize it should be raining sour lemons because this is how I'm feeling right about now. To make matter worse, I place my car in park, I get ready to climb out of the car, and I receive a vibration in my pocket. Low and behold, I just spent about 40 minutes trying to get to work. Lemons? You betcha. I just pull in and in that exact moment, they decide to close school. 

I remind myself of the ridiculous amount of traffic on 1-279, and I find myself in a slightly sour mood. Okay, my mood is more than slightly sour. I waddle my way to the front door of the school and without smiling, open the door and march inside. I find a bit of relief knowing that I am not the only one who made the treck. There are about five of us who did (including one of my favorite colleagues) as well as my principal. 

Life becomes a little more bearable as I watch one of my colleagues walk through the door with her two little girls. She sets their little chairs up in the staff lounge and begins toasting Mickey Mouse waffles for both of them. And then I began to think about that, from their little perspectives as they both point and chatter about the snow falling from the sky, I realize that this day is almost like a Disney Celebration. They get to watch the snow, play games at school while their mom puts together some substitute plans all while giggling and eating some Mickey Mouse waffles. There is no sour but only sweet. Lemons? They see the waffles. Catastrophe? They see winter wonderland. Serious? How could it be? Beautiful white fluff is falling from the sky. 

I spent my morning from 6:30 until 12:00 after I left school working but also thinking a lot about waffles. Quit focusing on the bad. Quit looking at all decisions you make in life (like leaving in the midst of a snow storm) a major regret. When life gives you lemons, make some waffles. Because all those little holes and crevices in that waffle are only a fraction of the decisions you make in life. Some may not be the most desirable, but you notice when you pour that syrup over the surface of a waffle, you can make almost any hole or chosen crevice much sweeter than it was before.