Today at Two O’ Clock

[Stephen Torelli]

Blanketed with snow… streets without cars, trucks, and buses or trains rumbling below, feels like an untried planet, so quiet, a shroud of white… soft, snowy, and soothing. Anxiety melts as calm captures and inches in, a breath of fresh air. 

The markets seduce you, bakeries and pastry shops filled with hot bagels and breads, cakes and cookies along with fruit and cream filled treats. And plump chickens in butcher shops waiting to be devoured accompanied by chocolate shops next door frothing with hints of cacao.

“Hey Stefano,” says Gianni as he pops his head outside the pub’s door, “Come in for a glass of Gluvine,” a spiced Roman winter drink.

“No, go fuck yourself,” says Stefano, “I’m going to the cigar bar.”

 

[Stephen Torelli]

The streets and sidewalks are cleared already, unlike yesteryear, and we're back to normal. The effects of a blizzard used to be a three day event, tranquil, quiet, and hardly any traffic, yet the pubs and markets are still overstocked with food, drink, and merriment.  

Glühwein is usually prepared from red wine,heated and spiced with cinnamon sticks,cloves, star aniseed, citrus, sugar and at times vanilla pods. It is sometimes drunk mit Schuss(with a shot)

[Toby Tucker Hecht]

I can hear the crunch of the snow under your boots in this one.  I remember my days in NYC when time stopped and you could smell winter.

[Joey Delgado]

Love the imagery and the phrase 'untried planet'. I also agree with Angela, there's nothing like a friendship where you can tell each other to 'go fuck yourself' and mean it, but mean it with love. Although, the Gluvine sounds interesting. I would like to try that.

[Angela]

There is something very endearing about a friendship in which "go fuck yourself" is affectionate banter.  Haven't seen you in a while.

[Diana E. Backhouse]

I think the best thing about snow is the silence that comes with it.