Little Snippets of Snow

The weather really is not my favorite subject, but this year it’s different. It’s been the goofiest winter we’ve had in awhile. The flukes of nature were predicted, and the culprit seems to be La Niña, a phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean. For the past two or three years, the blame was laid at the feet of El Niño, who seemed to cause all sorts of weather problems. Last year we set a record for snowfall, and some of our storms were wild. We get nor’easters here and, depending on where they hit the coast, we can get several feet of snow. Looking at it (from the safety of my windows) it brought back memories.

I can remember when I was teaching – we hoped for snow days as much as the kids! Some years we’d have so much snow, that we needed to have make-up days at the end of the year. On other years, we’d have so little of the white stuff, that we got extra snow days in May! I was the intrepid driver when we had snow that arrived after school began, and I’d drop off other teachers at their homes, after we shipped off the little ones! I stayed that way until the time when I was a principal, making my long trek to school, and I hit some black ice. The sun hadn’t come up yet, and the car spun in circles across three lanes. Fortunately, there were few cars on the road, and I had minimal damage. It cured me of driving in bad weather, though.

I also hated making the decision for snow days when I was a principal. Even though this is a small state, the weather varies a great deal between the shore areas (near where I worked) and the Philly suburbs where I live.  So, I still had to get up early, check with the bus company, and opt for a snow day or not. I was either the hero or villain, depending on my decision. There were times when we had little accumulation up here, but it was wicked forty miles away. I had to rely on my secretary to let me know how bad it was. Sometimes, she’d send her husband out to check the roads! Of course, the opposite could (and did) occur: the weather there was fine and I was socked in. I’d schedule school, and just arrive late. Those were the days I really hated!

 Now, I have no snow days to worry about.  When we had all those storms from ’09 on, I could sit in my nice warm house and watch it fall. It was too dangerous for me to try and walk in it, so I never ventured out. I stopped driving, and my husband is cautious. So there was never a worry on that end, either.

This year was different, though. We’ve had really mild weather for the most part. On some days, I got by with just a sweater; on others, a light jacket. Today, we’re getting a dusting and it’s a little colder. It’s a gray day, but I’m staying indoors and won’t be affected. I’ll see if anything ices up tomorrow, and make my decision for home or out.  Then the temps will rise again, and we’ll be in the 50s by Tuesday!

If I had my druthers, I’d take this weather every year. But I know I’ll be booed by the snow lovers, so I’ll just enjoy in silence.

Peace,

Muff