January 6, 2015 

Mom’s most uttered phrase is, I can’t believe it!

It’s snowing lightly today. Mom looks out the window, I can’t believe it!

It’s 7:00 am, I can’t believe it!

Rob is still sleeping, I can’t believe it!

There is nothing I can think of that will not elicit an I can’t believe it! from my mother. This is not anything new, of course. It’s been a lifelong habit. How in the middle of winter can a snowfall be so unusual as to be unbelievable? How can 7:00 am in the morning be such an unbelievable time? Why is it so unbelievable that Rob is sleep at 7:00 am, when he goes to bed late each night. Mom herself usually rallies around 10:00 am. But mom was up and ate her breakfast at an unusually early 7:45 am. She kept calling me and the only way to prevent her waking Rob was to get her up. Alas, she is back in bed. Believe me.

Later, mom was watching TV as the news about school closings scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

Sandy!

What mom?

Why are all the schools closing?

It’s snowing, mom.

I can’t believe it.

Well, it is snowing.

I know, but why are they closing the schools?

It’s too slippery for the school buses and the children.

Oh. I can’t believe it.

Sometimes neither can I.