55 Days and WHAT?

 Just getting back from Labor Day and I’m not thinking about how much fun we had cooling off in the pool this summer, grilling up Fenway Franks, and sipping cool cocktails. I’m fixated on one fact… it’s been only HOW MANY DAYS since the last stubborn snow in Boston’s Seaport melted?

55. Surprised? I am. 55? Disbelief drove me to count this by hand, even though there’s (probably) an app for that.  I counted twice.

I’m in flip flops, favorite t-shirt, and Hawaiian board shorts. I’ve just completed a lap, not in the pool but through the backyard shed. Was I looking for the pool brush or a sun-drenched raft to sneak in another spin before the oaks start to shed their acorns and leaves? Nah, just dusting off the snow blower and finding the roof rakes. I see we still have 4 40-lb bags of ice melt and 100 pounds of traction sand, great find!

Why not do all of this now? Today I just washed and dried my favorite iPhone-compatible, touchscreen-sensitive winter gloves. It’s 95 degrees outside and I’m thinking of winter gloves, not Body Glove. What is wrong with me?

I generally like to think ahead. But, isn’t this activity jumping the gun by, oh I don’t know, about 55 days?

My MINI Cooper service advisor even shook his head, a tad perplexed, the day after Labor Day. Did he know it’s only been 55 days? No, of course he did not. You probably didn’t, either. I was in for an appointment. I lifted from the finger-print-smudged glass counter the customer-copy transaction receipt detailing a routine oil change, cabin air filter replacement, tire rotation, and complimentary multi-point safety inspection. As I turned to the exit and we thanked each other, I just could not resist and out of my mouth it came…

Mike, I think my MINI needs snow tires.

After blinking a few times, he was able to stutter and spit out that winter (shudder) stock would be received in late October. If not available in October, then definitely by November’s first week. Yes, in about 55 days. “I just received the pricing sheets today,” he chuckled. It was abundantly clear he did not expect this question on a 95 degree day!

I’m thinking I can chalk this up to (at least) one of 3 things. Good planning skills, acknowledging last year’s lessons learned, or an anxiety level I haven’t felt since Epic TDR testing! Not entirely sure which, I can say I’ve got a good “burning platform” driving this behavior. My motivation: if I’m climbing up on the roof again this Winter at least I will have a rake and not a pool brush (not great substitutes when roof rakes are out of stock!), sliding backward down the sloped driveway into passing traffic because no hardware stores have ice melt. Unprepared last Winter? Definitely! A lot of us were. Am I ready this time? Maybe…have you read the Farmer’s Almanac prediction for 2015/2016?

In the meanwhile, all of this summer snow preparation has made me practically overheat. I think I need a swim (maybe I can order the firewood while afloat?)!