Mary Ann had just removed a pan of brownies from the oven, then she took her tea kettle and ran it under the tap. After filling it with water and placing it on the burner, she made her way to the living room to listen to the weather updates on the radio. Snow was coming and she was excited. She hadn't seen snow in at least 15 years. Of course, they were calling for a blizzard, but it didn't matter to her. She had everything she needed right there on the farm, and she had her dear husband to keep her warm. A tune by Queen was just wrapping up, when the announcer's voice came on the air.

"This is Marvelous Mel Martin on KZWQ here with the weather report for the Horner's Corners/Winfield area. Accumulation is set to start within the next hour or two. This accumulation is a 100% chance, according to the National Weather Service. We are expected to receive twelve to fifteen inches of snow, mixed with three to four inches of ice. Wind gusts will be a blustery sixty miles per hour. Every one is advised to stay indoors, make sure you have plenty of food, candles or flashlights, and alternate sources of heat. Now for your listening pleasure, here is a song to set the mood..."Baby, It's Cold Outside". "

As Mary Ann listened to the tune, one she usually associated with Christmas, she thought of her husband. He would be in any minute now, freezing to death and needing some warmth. She went and grabbed candles and a flashlight out of kitchen drawer, and pulled a few extra blankets out of the hall closet. Just then, her husband came in the door, shivering, rubbing his hands together, then rubbing his hands across his arms.

"Gilligan! You're freezing to death," Mary Ann said with shock. Just then the tea kettle began to whistle. "Come sit by the fireplace. I put water on. Do you want coffee or hot chocolate?" She then draped a blanket over his shoulders.

"Hot chocolate, p-p-please," he replied, still shivering, "b-b-boy, I'm sure not use to this cold weather anymore."

"Do you want marshmallows?" She asked. Gilligan threw her a look that said, "Do you even have to ask?" "Oh yeah, of course. I'll give you extra marshmallows because you're my brave, strong sailor man...uh, I mean my big, strong farmer," Mary Ann thought it was so sweet of Gilligan to give up sailing just so she could be in Kansas. She promised herself one day, they would definitely move back to Hawaii.

"Well," Gilligan started, as he took a sip of his hot chocolate, "those animals should be ok during the storm. The barn door is double bolted, and all the livestock have extra hay and water. I even laid some big old blankets down for the animals to lay on. I sure hope Bessie keeps that calf nice and warm."

"I'm sure she will," Mary Ann said, offering Gilligan one of the warm brownies. "You know, I wasn't sure at first how you would take to farming. I think my father was even less sure. However, you listened to every word he said and you followed his every instruction. I know it's been only a few months, but you seem like you've been doing it all your life."

"Well, I've always loved animals... any kind of animal," Gilligan stated.

"Especially apes," Mary Ann teased, "Gladys as Miss Castaway indeed." They both laughed over the memory. They started talking and reminiscing so much that they hadn't noticed the snow had started. The sound of the howling wind and the rattling of the window pane, caused them to rise from their spots on the couch and peer out the window.

"It's here! It's finally here!" Mary Ann shouted with excitement, "I can't believe how much I've missed this stuff."

"I'm going out to feel it on my face," Gilligan said, as he threw his coat back on, along with his earmuffs, scarf, and gloves.

"Wait for me!" Mary Ann shouted.

They ran outside, holding on to each other to shield against the strong wind. Gilligan opened his mouth and let a few snowflakes drop on his tongue, and Mary Ann danced around, holding out her hands to catch the flakes as they dissolved in her gloved palm. Of course, they went in after just a couple of minutes. The snow had begun to fall even harder now.

After putting their coats and accessories away, Mary Ann fixed both of them another cup of hot chocolate. Then they cuddled under one blanket, listening to the radio, paying special attention to unfamiliar tunes, ones that obviously came out while they were stranded on that deserted island. Television was out of the question tonight. The storm had made the reception almost non-existent. Suddenly, the radio stops and everything grows dark.

"Uh oh, there goes the electricity," Gilligan said, lighting a candle. There was always the light from the fireplace, but he lit the candle just in case someone had to use the restroom, or wanted a midnight snack... Gilligan lived for midnight snacks.

"The bedroom is too cold. Maybe we should sleep down here tonight," Mary Ann suggested, and Gilligan agreed. They both lay by the fireplace, huddled in sleeping bags and blankets. They spent most of the evening talking and occasionally glancing out the window to tell the other how deep the snow had gotten since the last time they checked. They finally both fell asleep, dreaming of walking hand in hand down a snow covered lane.

The next morning, Mary Ann made a breakfast of oatmeal, buttered biscuits, and coffee. Thank heavens for gas ovens. Gilligan awoke shortly after her and went to check on the animals. Blizzard or no blizzard, he still had to milk the cow and gather the eggs. That's just the way it was with a farmer. Once he was done, he sat down to breakfast, exclaiming to Mary Ann how beautiful everything was.

"The whole pasture looks like a field of diamonds!" He had said with excitement. "I know, after breakfast let's go build a snowman and have a good old fashioned snowball fight." The idea appealed to Mary Ann very much. For once in her life, she let the dishes sit, as her and her husband raced upstairs to get dressed as fast as they possibly could. It was the best winter that Mary Ann could ever remember. Nothing was more fun than making snow angels and snowmen with her husband, nor quite as thrilling as pelting her beloved with a face full of snowballs She giggled and thought to herself, As long as I have my Gilligan beside me, bring on the storms. As long as we can stay like this, bring it on, Mother Nature... Let it snow.