New York City during the January blizzard was an unexpected treat. I took the trip to attend the first ever Broadway Con and complete some book research, but what I got was an historic snow storm of nearly 30 inches that forced Broadway to go dark, something that rarely happens.

As a Wisconsin girl used to heavy snowfall, a friend and I tramped through blustery conditions down to Times Square where a team of city workers kept the iconic landmark accessible for the tourists who came out to play.

Despite being stranded in the city, most of the people I saw were eager to be a part of snowpocalypse. There were snowmen, snow angels and snowball fights.

 

Most storefronts were locked up as roads had all been closed to traffic. The heavy snow created a muffled quiet. With no taxis or buses to dodge, we walked down Broadway unbothered while the lights of Times Square glowed dimly through the thick blanket of white.

After playing in the snow, we discovered an off-the-beaten-path pub packed with boisterous folk who wanted to escape their hotel rooms. It was there we met the most adorable and funny British gals. They had stood in the cold for two hours to get their refund for the cancelled Les Mis, their dream show, when one gal nearly froze her toes off. While she sat on her stool with her bare feet up, her best friend dried her socks under the hand dryer in the “loo”. Much laughter ensued, dry boots were shared, and when it was time to say our goodbyes, email addresses exchanged. Later I learned their flight home was postponed, so they were able to see Les Mis after all.

Clean up crews were in full force the next day, and four days later, there was barely a trace of snow left to find. A few days after that the temps hit 54 degrees!

All that snow reminds me of writing my novella, Snowed Over.

If you haven’t read it yet, check it out!