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Nina In New York: The Fourth Jonas, Who Was Gone Too Soon

A lighthearted look at news, events, culture and everyday life in New York. The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
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By Nina Pajak

Hey Jonas, now that was a blizzard! How often does the snowfall actually exceed the usually psychotic predictions of the frenzied local weather reports? And while Saturday was a miserable combination of relentless precipitation, terrifying winds and bitter cold, yesterday was relatively delightful. Bright sun, comparatively warm conditions, two feet of pure, driven, pristine, tantalizingly untouched snow. The very perfect weather for the three S's: Sledding, Snow angels, and Spending thirty minutes suiting up your toddler to Spend twenty minutes watching her devour snow in a public park followed by hysterical crying when she realized that her mittens are filled with snow. The end.

There's something about snow that brings out something soft in people. Our inner children are all awakened by that indescribable magic that happens when flakes fall from the sky. It's an all-encompassing magic that makes the world feel quiet and new and full of possibilities. Possibilities that never seemed real before. It's a magic that makes you, yourself, your lazy, lazy self, feel as though you could become a brand new person who is capable of effectively realizing said possibilities. No matter how many lazy, planless Saturdays we've had in the last six months, it's the one during a major blizzard that made me decide I was going to do all of the following:

  1. Potty train my toddler
  2. Clear out all my closets
  3. Reorganize the kitchen
  4. Clean the garage
  5. Exercise
  6. Begin practicing yoga for the first time in my life
  7. Give myself a manicure
  8. Catch up on sleep
  9. Catch up on all television and radio zeitgeist shows I've missed in the last two years.

And I'm pleased to report that I managed to do at least half of three whole items on that list! But five potty accidents and a few garbage bags filled with expired jam later, I came back down to reality. Now I find myself saddled with a bunch of half-finished tasks which I suppose I must see through. But all I really want to do is number 8, and maybe a little of number 9. I also need to spend a fair amount of time furtively staring at the menacing ice floe jutting out from my neighbor's roof directly above my doorway, as well as grumbling about lazy neighbors and store owners who can't bring themselves to properly shovel their sidewalks. Life is busy again! No time for genuinely important, life-improving projects and accomplishments.

The snow is trampled and mounded and dirty, my closet is in shambles, and it's back to the grind. But it was nice while it lasted. We'll miss you, Jonas, you beautiful taskmaster. And I'll see you at the next paralyzing weather event, odious to-do list. Or, you know, possibly never.

Nina Pajak is a writer living with her husband, daughter and dog in Queens. Connect with Nina on Twitter!

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