White Rooftops and Cinnamon Coffee

As we decorated the house for Christmas today, we looked out the window and saw that big white snowflakes were falling. It was a magical moment.  Here in North Carolina we don't get that much snow and being a native of Southern California, it is twice as exciting whenever the white stuff begins to fall.  I began yelling for my mother to come see.  She didn't understand.  She hustled over to the kitchen counter thinking that it was time for lunch.
"No Mom.  It's snowing," I yelled excitedly.  "Look outside!"
Mom nodded and continued to sit at the counter looking for her plate.
It took a while for her to comprehend.  There was just too much distracting her, but eventually she went to the window and looked outside.  Like a child she smiled a big smile and exclaimed, "Oh look!  It's snowing outside."
"Yes!  That's what I was trying to tell you." I showed her how the ground was turning white.  Mom began singing, 'It's raining it's pouring, the old man is snoring...'
"No, no...it's snowing," I corrected.
Mom continued to sing her song though.  She was stuck in the raining/pouring loop.  Five minutes later she asked me, "Is it snowing outside?"
"Why YES!  Look at that!" I remarked.  (Sometimes I just enter her world.
 It's easier than saying 'I know...I told you that before'.)

I turned on some Christmas music and began to sing along. Skip made some cinnamon coffee and the spirit of Christmas filled the air.  Mom parked herself in the hallway as I began to decorate the tree.  She seemed to understand that something different was happening and I asked her if she knew what time of year it was.  She thought for a while and then, miraculously announced "It's Christmas!" Then I encouraged her to sing along with the Christmas songs but again she took up the Raining/Pouring refrain.

A few minutes later a friend dropped by and Mom began singing her song to my friend.  She was smiling with excitement as she pointed outside.  I had my own song I sang in my head. 
'It sleeting and snowing;
but Mom isn't knowing. 
She doesn't know rain from snow,
But my oh my she's glowing!'

When my friend left I thought that I might try one more time.  "Hey Mom.   You know the song 'White Christmas'?"
Mom blinked at me, so I sang a few bars to remind her.  I figured it would help her understand that it was snowing outside.  She remained silent so I said something about the growing blanket of white. The rooftops were beginning to hold the snow as well as the grass and trees.  What a visual treat!  "Mom, look!" I walked her to the front window.  She looked out in amazement.  A big smile lit up her face.  "Look!  It's snowing outside," she told me.  Then, as if I hadn't heard it before she began to sing...well, you know:  "It's raining it's pouring..."