Welcome to New Hampshire!

Happy New Year!

Two days ago, Mom, Katie and Jamie and I drove back to New Hampshire, literally outrunning a snowstorm which caught up to us in Mass. Today, we're getting dumped on again. Literally, we've been having a snow storm every two days here in New England this winter. I wish it were safer for people to visit because it is beautiful outside with snow weighing down birch trees and decorating the evergreens.

For those of you who've never been to New Hampshire, here's a little information. There are four seasons here: snow, mud, sun and leaves, which can also be described in colors: white, light green, dark green and red.

Looking straight at most houses, they look medium sized, but as you drive towards or past them, they are in fact a long conglomeration of extensions that often link the original house to the barn to avoid getting lost in a blizzard when the farmer needs to feed the cows.

In driver's ed. class, fifteen year olds learn about what to do if there is a moose in the road rather than deer [never hit a moose-- you'll die when the windshield hits his belly and he'll walk away].

The lakes region is a surprisingly fantastic inexpensive, athletic or relaxing vacation spot if one doesn't desire hot beaches. Instead we've got warm beaches and you probably wouldn't need air conditioning. Skiing, boating, hiking, fishing, swimming and snow mobiling are just some of the seasonal sports that can be enjoyed here. Surprisingly, there are many community theatre and music groups that often mix with professionals providing adequate entertainment throughout the year.

But don't expect the people to be exceptionally outgoing. They've lived here a long time and are buried for the winter months in their houses so they can be a private people.

There are my observations of New Hampshirites on this blizzardly afternoon when my family's not planning to leave the house again today after moving firewood to a house-bound church member's house all morning. I found it greatly enjoyable to work with nine others between ages 7 and 82 to accomplish the task and now we don't feel guilty about relaxing for the rest of the holiday. Maybe Mom and I will play a card game later. Welcome to New Hampshire.