Maria hasn’t figured it out quite yet, but I have this habit of buying her a gift on the eve of every big storm.

Yesterday, I was in our little town buying a book for the weekend and I walked by an artist’s craft store on Main st. The town was emptying out, everything was closing early as people headed home to beat this massive storm (it’s still snowing and sleeting) that was making its way to us.

I saw even the battle-hardened locals were taking this storm seriously, lots of ice will do that, no amount of snow causes panic.

I’ve been in more upstate New York winter storms than I could count, but when the farmers start to panic I get nervous.

They were right to worry. The farm is covered with ice so think Mike, our plowman, can’t scrap most of it away. He started working at 6 a.m. and was still going 13 hours later. Mike does a great job, we give thanks to him often.

I need to be careful walking until Spring.

As is my custom as the clouds gather and darken to think of a gift for Maria, who will do most of the shoveling and feeding of animals once the storm hits. I do the cards and the snow blowing.

My beautiful heart struggles in this cold to keep me warm.

I saw what I wanted right away and in the very first cabinet.

I’m not one of those shoppers who takes his time and ponders.

I love this pewter ring from the minute I saw it, it was original, unlike anything I’d seen.

Maria has never worn anything but a wedding ring, and this ring was artsy enough even for her. I’ve been batting nearly a thousand on gifts. It’s something I always want to do, but not all of the time. Big storms are worthy of commemoration. So is love.

I had it wrapped up and bought a card and placed the box and card at the dinner table, to be opened when we had finished eating. Maria usually scolds me when I bring her a present, she says she doesn’t need anything.

No scolding this time. She loved it and put it on her finger right away, she said the face was that of a female.

It’s a nice custom on the eve of a big storm like this, we know the next day or two will be hard and draining, especially a storm as mean-spirited as this one is. I don’t believe in unconditional love, love has to be earned, the fire kept burning. Small things matter.