I don’t know what they looked like, the radio announcers on KXRA, the early morning show. But once, maybe twice a year, I imagined them in full super hero gear, red capes, powerful arms reaching out to save the day. 

We didn’t get that many “snow days” – days when the weather closed the schools – but oh, when they came, it was glorious. The seed would be planted before bedtime. The bad weather might be on its way. It was like going to bed on Christmas Eve, so filled with hope you could barely sleep. When the alarm went off, we raced to windows, praying to see only snow. And if there was a pane filled with white, we raced to the radio. Did they say it? Did they announce it? Usually it would start with a delay… two hours late… no, that wouldn’t do. “Close it, close it, close it,” we pleaded with the radio airwaves. A delay meant still getting dressed. No school meant pajama day. Pajama day – PLEASE! The announcer started reading the school districts by number. Please 206, please 206. And when you heard it – oh my! And it wasn’t like we were tired – no just the opposite. How exhilarating! The freedom! The possibilities in that day. All because those super heroes on KXRA said our school district number out loud on the radio – but what I heard, what we heard was “You’re free!!!”

There is no snow in Aix en Provence. All of our trees are in bloom. On our way home from dinner last night in Marseille, it was late, and we started talking about sleep, bed… and for some reason we brought up pajama day – what if tomorrow was pajama day? It felt good to dream about it. Wait for it. We smiled all through breakfast, knowing we had the power to decide. We had the power to be our own super hereos. To swoop in, no matter the weather, and claim the day. All things possible. Everything in bloom. 

Now, I am no Patty Wicken (our local radio star), but I tell you in my best radio voice, save yourself today, do something you love, be someone you love, because in the blossom of today – You are free!!!