Having a Say
February 3, 2010
photo by Ann Voskamp
My children were convinced that the snowstorm last week was their doing. No doubt about it. And as that snow resulted in school closing, they were also convinced that every teacher and student in the county should shower them with praise. They seemed quite smug about the whole thing.
This magical manipulation of nature involved a rather unorthodox and highly secretive ritual performed the night before—they flushed two ice cubes down the toilet. According to the theory, one cube produces approximately two and a half inches of snow. Good for snowballs, but not for closing school. Hence the extra cube. Five inches would certainly do the trick.
I’d never heard of flushing ice cubes down the toilet to guarantee a snow. Tossing the snow shovel into the middle of the front yard always worked when I was a kid. And occasionally still does. Everyone knows it always snows when you can’t find your snow shovel…
I’m over at high calling blogs today, so just go right here to read the rest of this article. And feel free to share what your own snow day rituals were. Because I really had never heard of the flushing-ice-cubes-down-the-toilet thing, and I’d really like a snow day soon…
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8 Responses to “Having a Say”
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I’m a writer whose first novel, Snow Day, will be published by FaithWords in 2010.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m just as confused as anyone.
And that is fine with me, because the great thing about wandering around in the fog is that you never know what you might run into.
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I love the things children come up with. I was convinced it was caused by all the prayers I have thrown before the throne for snow and lots of it. All my friends are saying: STOP IT…quit praying for snow.
blessings,
andrea
My daughter was afraid we wouldn’t have snow for Christmas this year. So she decided to pray for it. We got 37 inches between Christmas eve and Christmas Day. She is never allowed to pray for snow again.
I only heard of this ritual for the first time several weeks ago. Being homeschooled myself, weather didn’t affect our days–unless it was too nice outside to stay in!
The ice cube flushing cracked me up. Leave it to kids…
Mine just declare, with gusto, that it will be a snow day. And unfortunately, this year in Nebraska they have been right more times than not. We had one week when they cancelled school 4 days in a row. I thought I was going to go insane. Now the school district has added on 15 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon to the school day for the next two weeks, to make up for all the cancelled days so far this year. I don’t know what this says about my precariously balanced life, but these 35 tacked-on minutes are killing my finely tuned schedule.
I’m heading over the HCB for the rest of your story…
Billy,
Well I can honestly say that flushing ice cubes to cause it to snow was a new concept to me. If only, were the words that lingered in my mind as I have failed to see it snow just once this year. But according to Dr. Phil, the original, groundhog, I may still have 6 more weeks of possibilities left and who knows, perhaps I may just find myself flushing a few ice cubes. I couldn’t hurt!
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
wow! wish i would have known that trick when i was a kid in MI sitting by the radio hoping, hoping, hoping OUR school would be closed!! (usually it was all schools around ours but NOT ours!) our school was more like the Post Office–through rain or hail or sleet or snow, it’s off to school we’d go! : ) and it’s funny, but i never thought i had any real power over the closings, though i will admit i did do some praying!! : ) and i don’t think my parents would have been at all tolerant of me flushing anything non-toilet-related!!
I’d never heard of flushing ice cubes before but I can vouch for the homework thing. I learned about life’s control the hard way.
I love that you let them learn their own lesson while still being there “just in case.” Reminds me of another great guy I know…
Considering we get snow every 10 years or so, I’ve never heard of a snow ritual. But I do know even the “hint” that there will be flurries can shut down a school here in Louisiana.