Yesterday morning we woke up early (7 o’clock or so, which constitutes “sleeping in” for Berck, who usually rises between 4:30 and 5). “What do you want to do today?” asked Berck, who had gotten out of working because of unfavorable winds. I suggested we could go on a hike. The sky was mostly overcast, and Berck suggested the weather might be against us.

A little later we looked out the window again. The air was full of thick, white flakes! It snowed and snowed for a few hours, sticking to everything except the roads. “If this keeps up,” exclaimed Berck, “I can test out my new snow tires!” We had just picked them up from the shop the evening before.

But the snow stopped. And even though everything was covered with snow, when the sun came out, it all melted almost immediately. The afternoon ended up being sunny and warmish.

Actual Fact: The word “decimation” comes from the Latin word meaning “removal of a tenth,” describing a Roman army practice to punish mutinous or cowardly troops. The doomed were put in groups of ten, and then each group drew lots. The one loser out of the ten was slain by the other nine.