HUSHED WORLD**

     Going outside this morning I was immediately enveloped in silence. Not even trafficwaves  noise was audible and it was like the entire world had taken a time out. As I walked to the sea wall across the highway  I could see a few headlights coming towards me .I climbed the stairs over the wall and was confronted with gray skies, sand and ocean. It looked as if the beach has been photo shopped. Even the surf lapping at the shoreline was muted and instead of crashing the diminutive waves snuck onto the sand. It was an eerie sensation this lack of sound. The air had a bite to it and it was cold with a breeze hunting for weak spots in my jacket. If one was familiar with the climate here one sensed an impending snow fall with the dampness in the air being the deciding factor. This time I had no doubts that the talking heads on the Weather Channel had gotten it right this time. We were going to get a lot of snow and soon.

    I didn’t stay long as the Furnace Repair men were due soon. I was amazed by them as they came on time, had the parts and left in 45 minutes with the job finished and my check in their hands. They had installed a filter in my furnace system.

    I headed for work and stopped off at a new sandwich shop. My thought was with the storm coming I had better get something to eat now as later on the storm might prevent any food runs later on. I bought a sandwich to share with Rob as the medium size will fill two.  The sandwich name is JERSEY EYE OPENER and consists of “ loaded with bacon, pork roll, fried eggs, thick cut fries, beer battered onion rings, then topped with gravy and your choice of melted cheese.”   Unwrapping it in the office gave us both pause. I wished I had brought an apron or bib with me.

     For a few minutes the only sound in the office was that of chewing and swallowing and the shoooomum sound of our arteries closing.

     Looking out the door I can see that the snow has begun to cover my car. The storm is for real.