The phenomenon of winter, unknown to me in Tucson, has made an important, unexpected appearance late in the year 2008. My vacation in the Midwest hamlet of Bloomington, IN has proven to be uninoculated from the disease.

This afternoon, my flight to Oklahoma City (via St. Louis) was scheduled to depart from Indianapolis, IN early this evening. Bloomington, IN where I have been on holiday is some 45 miles due south of Indy. As my trusty navigator guided us on to Bloomington’s I-37, we were greeted by a complete traffic standstill.

The roads were so icy, not even the sand trucks could pass.

Appraently, this is why:

[Link]

The good news is that I am re-scheduled to depart tomorrow afternoon- God willing. And, of course, there are very few places in America that I would prefer being ‘wintered in’ at the moment than Bloomington, IN. I have had a terrific trip.

Suffice it to say, the Song of the Week from Vincente Minnelli’s 1944 classic, “Meet Me in St. Louis” hits close to home on a variety of levels. Naturally, Judy Garland’s haunting version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is easily the best. I remain hopeful that I will be able to share a Christmas post with you from my Oklahoma home. But until then, please enjoy this Pax Plena Song of the Week.

And in case I should not make it back, do have a Merry Christmas!