Who's afraid

of the Big Bad Snow?

Portlanders, that's who. 

It began with tiny crystals in mid-morning. At the grocery, there was no room in the parking lot. The store was mobbed with people pushing overflowing shopping carts, stocking up on food and toilet paper. "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!"

The library was closed. The pool was closed. As the day drew on, the snow began to stick. See how much? See how scary?

I went for a walk at sunset, though you couldn't tell it was sunset because the sky was the same pale grey and the light was as dim as they had been all day. This busy street, usually lined with parked cars and filled with traffic, was deserted except for a single timidly creeping car. I was the only person for blocks. Even though there was hardly any snow!

It was delicious. The cold felt sweet on my cheeks. I renewed my interest in the Tiki Totem sculptures that Kenny Scharf, a contemporary of Andy Warhol, created to hide catenary poles for the streetcar. This one looks as though it's frowning thinking of the silly people afraid to go out in the lovely snow.