Unexpected Snow Day for Oak Forest Schools Brings Joy for Kids

There is nothing like a snow day. With the impending snow storm that is reported to be coming tonight, all the schools in Oak Forest have called a snow day. I just told my kids the news and my 3 super cool teenagers, jumped around our home, like they were 5 years old.

There is something about snow days, that makes children so joyous it can warm even the hearts of overworked parents who still will have to brave the weather to get to work. There is a, "If you can't beat em, join em," sort of mentality that happens though which can bring a community together.

I was around for the big blizzard of 1978 here in Chicago. I was 11 years old and in 6th grade. I still remember the sheer joy of waking up to the snow blanketing my neighborhood in a white layer of magic. There was so much snow that even my dad stayed home from work.

I remember the feeling a pure bliss, that only a child can feel, as my mom told me that school was canceled. I did a happy dance knowing that I would have a day filled with making snow angels, having snow ball fights and engineering snow forts with the neighborhood kids who were already yelling and laughing in the streets.

As my dad bitched and moaned about missing work and my mom cussed and complained about shoveling the foot of snow, my sister and I were happily squeezing into our snow suits and pulling on our snow boots. We ran out into the street making foot prints in the untouched snow.

My dad began shoveling still grunting and groaning. The other neighborhood dads were out also, grunting, groaning and shoveling. There was a feeling though that fell over our neighborhood just like the snow that was still coming down. On that day, with the snow all around, kids laughing, throwing snowballs and already trying to construct snow men, there was a feeling of comradery and neighborhood.

One of the dads had a snow blower and as the men cleared off snow from their cars, and began shoveling their sidewalks and driveways, the snow blower made its rounds. From one house to the next the snow blower cleared all the driveways and sidewalks with all the neighborhood guys, taking turns and helping each other.

Once all the snow was cleared , the parents of our block all ended up in the middle of the street laughing and joking. I am pretty sure that some spirits made its way out of the liquor cabinet, and before long, on 44th Court, in Alsip, there was an impromptu party that broke out.

Hot chocolate and cookies made its way out of the kitchens and into the hands of the kids and the sound of the snow plow coming down the street made everyone cheer. All the neighborhood kids stayed out as long as possible trying to squeeze every moment out of the magical, wondrous, and memorable snow day.

There were many snow days that I would encounter through out my life time, but that day will always hold a sweet place in my heart. The day that a foot of snow and an unexpected snow day brought my entire neighborhood out into the street to help each other and enjoy each other's company.

As my high school kids, jump around tonight at the news of the snow day called for tomorrow, I am hoping for a ton of snow to fall tomorrow so maybe, just maybe, all my current neighbors will meet in the middle of the street.