SNOW SUCKS
Well, being
a cranky old man you knew of course that I absolutely hate the snow. It is cold, it blocks roads, it ruins plans, and
it needs to be shoveled… snow sucks.
Except, surprise,
I love the snow*. I have always loved
snow and I always will love the snow. I
never saw snow until we moved east from California when I was nine. There was a trip in California that my pops
took us up to Mt. Baldy where I first saw snow and skiers. Mt. Baldy was close to our San Marino home in
California, and we could see the snowy slopes from our house, but I never saw “it
snowing” until I was nine.
Watching it
snow was fascinating. Having school
called off was exhilarating. I immediately
loved the snow. I loved watching it come
down at night almost blotting out the street light outside my window. I woke early in the AM to listen intently to
the radio for school closing announcements. Don Bosco
always closed first (apparently it is at the top of a large hill), my school
was always last to announce. At least it
was the last I ever heard because that was all I needed to hear.
I had to
shovel the driveway of course, but with my brothers help that went fast. Next it was off with friends to shovel other
driveways…BIG MONEY. One storm we made
$15, three boys, three driveways, $5 a driveway. Then it was off to the hill sledding. They didn’t sand or salt the hills on our
block, so sledding was on the street. We
stopped occasionally to help push cars that were stuck. When the car was freed we would hang on the
bumper for a ride. The drivers were
appreciative of the push and never objected.
It seems today
it is politically incorrect to admit you like the snow. The weather sluts always interview the man on
the street to hear their mandatory complaints and whining, but I believe
everyone is secretly like me…lovers of the snow.
Snow
cleanses a dirty world. Snow makes
everything stop and slow down for a little bit.
Snow makes you appreciate the warm indoors. Snow provides a new temporary playground.
When I
commuted to work, I did not like the inconvenience of a big snow storm. In forty years my job was only called off two
days for snow. When you are grown up,
snow is not as much fun as when you were a kid, but it does bring out the kid
in most people whether they admit it or not.
It brings back kid memories; it creates new memories for your own
children and grandchildren.
It looks
like snow tomorrow. I am supposed to
drive to my son’s house for Grandpa Joe Thursday. I hope my drive will not be a mess. I hope I do not get snowed in until Friday. My son is supposed to visit from Massachusetts
on Friday. I hope snow does not become
the excuse for my ex to withhold his visitation. There are lots of unanswered questions in the
next day or two because of the imminent snow storm.
I may be
sorry, but still I am looking forward to it.
*Snow, not ice and slush. Ice and slush sucks big time!
*Snow, not ice and slush. Ice and slush sucks big time!
Yeah, I agree, snow sucks, My snow shovel sucks, the bucket of salt I have sitting on the front stairs sucks. I would rather have a sun burn than frost bite. After having said that I love to look at it from a distance, of say 10 miles, or on TV.
ReplyDeleteWe get plenty of snow most years here in Colorado and I do like a beautiful snowstorm, but then I am not the one who has to shovel. My affection for snow wanes a bit when it starts to melt then refreezes and becomes just a lot of dirty ice.
ReplyDeleteWe rarely get snow in this part of England -- and I rather miss it. Nothing prettier than a snowy New England Day. I grew up before most people had snow blowers, so it was necessary for the whole family (or fam damily, as my Dad used to say!) to get out there with the shovels and keep the driveway clear. And then we would get the driveway clear and the plow would go by and pile up a huge dirty mass of snow at the end!
ReplyDeleteAround here snow just messes with folks.
ReplyDeleteIn the valley it might snow once every couple of years.
Another 500 feet of elevation and it snows a couple of times a year.
People around here don't know how to drive in the rain, let alone drive in snow.
Heck!
They can't drive on dry pavement on a straight road.
i like your starred clarification. :) (i couldn't spell asterix)
ReplyDeleteEvery fall I wonder if the upcoming winter will be a white one? I, too, love snow. Three or four inches, the more the better, and I'm a happy camper. We don't shovel it, we just play in it. Then 3 or 4 days later it's all gone and the temp is back in the 60's. What's not to like? :)
ReplyDeleteS
As a new Utah resident let me share "the greatest snow on earth": http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1288&sid=28286072
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I too rather like the snow. BUT, only if it's not some half assed little bit.
ReplyDeleteWe have enough this year that my lawn is not only covered, but the snow banks are too high for the little darlings to take a short cut across said lawn, leaving their annoying little footprints.
The snow seems to deaden the background noise so prevalent here in the burbs.
Except for that f**king dog next door.
I love snow, watching it on TV occurring in other states.
ReplyDeleteI have to drive down into a big river valley, cross the river and drive back up the other side to go to work. In ten years I have only taken one snow day. But, I do not love it as you do. Hope your plans go well.
ReplyDeletesnow is awesome, it really is and this year has been great with it.
ReplyDeletenow if you'll excuse me, time to get some shut-eye so I'll be fresh to clear the snow coming tomorrow morning ....
Joe, I too loved snow . . . as a kid in North Dakota. But no more. Well, if I could sit in a warm cabin somewhere with a big fire going in a fireplace and a picture window to watch it pile up outside and a refrigerator full of frozen pizzas and the power didn't go out and the heat stayed on and . . . and . . . and . . . Yeah, I love snow, too.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope you've been to the store to stock up on bread and milk.
ReplyDeleteBeing a Minnesotan we're not allowed to denigrate snow. Nor ice of sub freezing temps either. But as the aging process has kicked in I'm not as keen about it as I used to be. Your take on menus was much fun. I find these fancied up delectable sounding menus often misleading and the product very disappointing. Applebees is a prime example...:)
ReplyDeleteWe do not have snow in these parts of California we need to drive about 4 hours to Tahoe for that - but hey we get to deal with droughts yah!!! We are in a doozy of one this year. Hope you stocked up on groceries
ReplyDelete