So apparently we've got a big snowstorm rolling in this weekend, and I'm not gonna lie—I'm kind of excited about it. Snow's supposed to start falling anytime now today, then we'll get this whole on-and-off situation (with some rain mixed in, naturally) through Monday.

I've been stocking up on the essentials: snacks, water, those electric candles (because yeah, I avoid anything with actual fire even though a real candle would be so cozy and hygge and all that). But here's the thing I'm secretly hoping for: a power outage. Sounds weird, right? But if the lights go out, that's my excuse to finally read through this stack of books that's been sitting there judging me for months.

My dad might even hook up a generator to my house today, just in case the power goes out—though honestly, part of me is still hoping for that cozy, unplugged reading experience.

Now you're probably wondering: how am I supposed to read in dimmed candlelight? Well, thank God for this little reading light accessory I ordered from Amazon. Game changer!

Right now I'm reading The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown—got it for Christmas from my parents. They've bought me a book every year, which is honestly one of my favorite traditions. Most of the time, it's John Grisham because he was my go-to author back in the '90s. This year, they also got me a new release, *The Widow,* by John Grisham, but... it's currently MIA. Lost somewhere in the pile of stuff at their house. 🙄 Classic.

Anyway, Dan Brown just gets me. I've read a couple of his books and seen at least two of the movies, so I'm pretty much in the fan club at this point.

I also really need to finish Dust by Patricia Cornwell that I started last month. And by "started," I mean I got distracted by like seventeen different things and completely forgot about it. If you have ADHD, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Speaking of snow—remember that absolutely MASSIVE storm that hit most of the Eastern US back in 1994? I was living right here in Elkhorn City then, and we got buried. Some areas got up to 26 inches of snow, and [some towns were completely cut off](https://www.kentuckytoday.com/state/remembering-paralyzing-winter-storm-of-1994/article_8a4cbde3-59a8-5476-aaef-1fbc36910621.html#:~:text=In eastern Kentucky%2C some towns were completely cut-off due to the heavy snow and were only accessible by helicopter.)—only accessible by helicopter. And the cold after that? Brutal. We're talking [record-breaking -37°F](https://www.kentuckytoday.com/state/remembering-paralyzing-winter-storm-of-1994/article_8a4cbde3-59a8-5476-aaef-1fbc36910621.html#:~:text=Aided by the deep snow pack%2C record low temperatures were recorded%2C including minus 37 at Shelbyville on Jan. 19%2C which set a new all-time record for the state.) in parts of Kentucky. Insane.

Now they're predicting 15+ inches of snow for this weekend, and honestly? I'm hoping they're right. I would love to see that much snow again—it would bring back all those memories from 1994.

Fast forward 32 years. I spent 28 years in DC before moving back home to Kentucky in 2024. DC had snow, too, and honestly? I miss those random snowball fights that would break out when we got hit hard. But here's the thing—snow in the city just hits different than snow blanketing the Appalachian mountains. There's nothing quite like waking up to see those ridges completely covered in white, the whole landscape transformed into this quiet, pristine winter wonderland. DC snow was fun, but mountain snow? That's a whole other level of magical.

Known as the Grand Canyon of the South, Breaks Interstate Park is home to one of the deepest gorges east of the Mississippi.

So this weekend's storm? It'll be my first big Kentucky snowstorm since 1994. Thirty-two years since I actually witnessed one here.

I'm ready to see Appalachia looking like a winter wonderland again.

Let it snow! ❄️📚