Chatty is going "up north" to Pine Top, and she may even see SNOW! As Chatty lives in Arizona, the idea of snow is pure bliss, and the mere possibility has her smiling.

    Now, Chatty apologizes to anyone reading who may live in ACTUAL northern parts, where snow this time of year is an inconvenience at best and a nightmare at worst.

    Chatty is NOT talking about the snow you have to shovel. She is certainly not talking about the snow the plows come by and dump at the bottom of your drive, thus making it difficult if not impossible for you to leave your home.

    And, boy, does Chatty remember THAT kind of snow! She was born and raised in Chicago, after all.

    No, Chatty is talking about "pretty" snow. The snow that frosts the ground and looks, well, pretty.

    You see, when Chatty migrated to the West Coast and settled in Los Angeles, she had no idea how much she would miss the changing of the seasons. Oh, it took a few years, but having been born and raised in a part of the country where spring, summer, autumn and winter are distinct seasons, living in a place where the sun always shines and rainy days happen 4 times a year finally got to her.

    So, she moved to Arizona, where the sun always shines and you get rain 10 days a year. (But, at least in Arizona when it DOES rain, the thunderstorms are fantastic!)

    In any case, no changes of season wear on a girl after a few years.

    Which is why Chatty is so happy to be going up into the mountains, where there may be a bit of snow…

    But, Chatty has digressed big-time (digression is, after all, what she does best), because all she meant to say was that she will be out of town and away from her computer until Sunday. Gasp. This will be difficult for Chatty - imagine being underwater and having your oxygen tank fail...

    But, should you tune in before Sunday, Chatty would like to fill the few moments we spend together with an anecdote from her distant childhood (as told to her by her mother, and confirmed by her aunt). This anecdote only popped up in what Chatty loosely refers to as her mind because of a post her friend the Redneck Princess put up the other day. The Princess posted "Observations from a Bar Stool", and that got Chatty giggling.

    First, you must realize that Chatty heard this story from her mother YEARS after Chatty’s father had died; but when Chatty questioned her aunt many years after her mother had also died, her Aunt "E" laughed until she cried, and readily admitted that it went exactly as Chatty’s mother had described.

    You must also take it as read that Chatty’s father was a serious, proper, distinguished, disciplined executive type of guy. It was once said of him: "He’s the type of man who can eat one salted peanut – and stop." However, he had a wicked sense of humor, and when something tickled him, he would laugh until he cried. His little sister was the same way – I guess it ran in the family.

    And now – for those of you who have hung in there - at last – the anecdote!

    Chatty was an only child, and much cosseted. It seems that Chatty wanted a trip to the zoo, and therefore one was arranged. Mother, father, aunt, uncle, and Chatty sallied forth. Chatty was about 3, and frankly doesn’t remember much about the trip except that there were ANIMALS, and COTTON CANDY, and that she got to ride on her daddy’s shoulders at one point. The adults, however, had more vivid memories.

    Apparently, the adults were not as thrilled with all the animals and the endless traipsing from cage to cage and exhibit to exhibit as Chatty was.

    Their enthusiasm waned.

    Then, according to Chatty’s mother, we came to a stop at the bear enclosure (Daddy probably wanted a cigarette, and this was back in the days when you could just light one up and nobody thought anything of it, much less gave you dirty looks). Daddy and Aunt "E" were leaning on the rail, looking at the bears. The biggest one lumbered toward them, then turned around, squatted, and took a dump – right in front of them.

    My proper, serious, mature father leaned toward his sister and inquired:

    "Hey, sis – have you ever seen a bar stool?"

    And they both collapsed laughing.

    Chatty wishes she could actually remember that moment!

    But, it’s enough just to know that it happened…