Itz Holistically Wholesome

With much anticipation, I counted down the days for my daughter Aliyah to be on Spring break. We planned to visit family in the upstate area, and I thought it nice to get out and enjoy the pleasant country air. If you know of New York, you know how huge a state is. Therefore, it would take us approximately four and a half hours to get there, providing that there was no traffic and we made no stops along the way.

My daughter had checked the weather for that week, and it promised to be friendly except for a few days of rain. We were looking forward to an excellent quiet time in the country. I especially wanted to go sightseeing and learn about the surrounding towns and counties.

On Friday, April 15, 2022, We loaded up the car and set out on our journey. The weather was lovely; Mr. Sun came out in all his glory. People were out in their numbers to enjoy the nice and friendly climate. Families headed to the parks, and the little children looked delighted to be outside in the warm sun.

There was a lot of traffic on the road, and of course, we stopped at a roti shop in the Bronx to purchase pholourie, doubles, and aloo-pie (Trinidadian food). We then drove to the Jamaican restaurant, where we bought several vegetable Patties. That kept us for the entire journey.

We arrived at our destination around 10 pm. As forecasted, it rained all day Sabbath morning (Saturday) and for most of the day, so we stayed inside. Sunday was pretty nice, but the ground was muddy and wet. We could not do much outside.

We later learned that there would be a snowstorm on the night of Monday, April 18, 2022. I was in disbelief and figured that he might not be as bad as predicted. After all, it was almost the end of April, so how bad could it be. However, we decided to stock up on food just in case.

Late Monday evening, we made our way to the store. The trip took longer than planned but we managed to get all that we needed. When we were heading back to the house, the snow begun to fall, and it was very dark outside.

We got home, quickly emptied the car, and relaxed for the rest of the night. I still did not think it would be a lot of snow because it was near midnight, and there were no signs of it sticking to the ground.

I must have fallen asleep soon after. In the morning, hubby told me that the electricity was out around 2 am. When I got up to looked out the window, I was shocked. Everything was white, the trees were heavily laden with snow, and a few had succumbed to the weight and fell to the ground. A branch from a huge tree fell on top of the vehicle. Thankfully the damage was minimal.

There was so much snow on the ground, about 12-14 inches. I could not believe my eyes, and I felt a bit silly for not heading the warnings by preparing for the worst while expecting the best. 

Beloved, it is wise to be ye prepared and in a state of readiness. 

My son and his grandmother were excited about the snow. He had a blast playing around and getting wet from rolling in the snow. The rest of us thought that this was the most bizarre thing; but I must admit that the scenery was stunning to see.

Everyone went outside to look around when we found out that a huge tree had fallen and blocked the property entrance. We could only leave on foot because our vehicles could not pass. Hubby decided to clear the pathway using his sister’s saw, but it broke; mercy!

So here we were with no electricity, running water, internet, uncharged cellphones, and no means of leaving unless we planned to walk.

We were not worried, though, because we had plenty of food, drinking water, a lamp, solar and battery-operated lights, and a wood-burning stove to keep us warm and toasty. We cooked our meals outside using a stove and propane. My daughter was the chef, and she loved it.

We could not take a bath but had enough water to wash up and stay clean. There was water at a nearby stream if we were to ran out.

Around day two, a neighbor came by and asked if we needed help. Luckily she had working saws which she gave hubby to cut the trees. She was most kind and helpful. We went to her property next, and she introduced us to her animals. She had a mule, several donkeys, and three dogs. My son even got to sit on one of them while we petted others. 

Another neighbor told us that it was unusual for it to snow so much in April. I guess nature wanted to give us an experience.

The roads were now accessible, and because we could drive off the property, we went to a nearby town to access the internet and charge our phones. I was sure to make good use of the bathroom in Home Depot, if you catch my drift.

On Thursday, three days after the storm, the electricity was restored. I had the best shower ever that day. 

On Sabbath, we visited Elmira SDA church which was an hour and a half away. We met some beautiful people, including the pastor, his wife, and children. They had a health presentation and a social in the afternoon, and of course, we stayed and enjoyed the company of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I was happy that we were able to experience this. We have experience many snow storm but have never lost the use of basic amenities. It is essential to learn survival skills so that if we lose the conveniences that we now enjoy, we can keep it together and survive. My kids did great, and I could not be more proud. 

Growing up in Jamaica, West Indies, in the countryside, I have gone days, if not weeks, without amenities such as water, electricity, and internet whenever there was a storm, hurricane or heavy rain. In fact, in my earlier years, this was the norm as most rural homes did not have these conveniences. Now that I have experienced this in the cold season, I feel more ready to take on the unexpected if it should come to that.

Just as the snow came, it vanished as if nothing had happened. Mother Nature is a mystery.

After a long yet fulfilling week, we headed home on the afternoon of Sunday, April 24th. Like the day we left home, the weather was beautiful going back. Father God, I love you, oh. The sun felt like it was summer already. We were fortunate to see a couple of alpacas on our way, and we were so excited.

There is so much more to see and experience once you go out to the country, so do not be afraid to venture out.

Ps. We saw a small fox as well.

Did it snow in your area for the month of April as well? Please leave a comment.