So, we had a blizzard yesterday. This might be the most snow we have had in one event since we moved to Missouri. As a kid, snow meant sleding, snow forts, snowball fights, cold noses and toes. I remember it took a long time for our stiff fingers to work well enough to play a game of caroms when we finally came back into the house. That was how we took advantage of snowy winters in Nebraska.
I found out many, maybe even most Minnesotans like snow. When I lived there it seemed like Minnesotans wore it as a badge of honor to be able to survive the cold and snow of winter. Snowmobiling, skiing (cross-country and downhill), snow-shoeing, ice-fishing, dog-sledding, etc. the fun never stopped. People were not fazed by a blizzard, snow plows efficiently kept roads open, schools were rarely canceled and I don’t remember church ever being canceled because of wintery conditions.
I lived near Langley, British Columbia for two years in the late 1970’s. Even before a snowflake hit the ground the staff who lived off campus at the college where I worked were in their cars heading home. The accumulaton of snow was never more than an inch or two, but the people seemed to fear even a small amount.
It snowed twice in deep south Texas during our years there. It was such a novelty I had a young friend call me Christmas morning after a Christmas eve snow fall and ask me, “How do you make a snowman?”
Snow is snow wherever we find it. People’s reaction to it is what is different and interesting. I still like snow, but I would probably like it better in 70 degree temperatures. Not likely to happen, though.
ARDIE'S BOOKS 