Everyone Is Entitled To My Opinion On Venturing Out In the Snow

Dear Friends,

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow, great song, it was going through my mind on Sunday, the last day of January as the snow began falling. By Monday morning the snow was still falling and roads were icy. As the day went on we were told that the snow was going to be heavy, the song was still in my mind, making me the victim of “involuntary musical imagery” or “earworms.”

By Tuesday morning the street where I live was a blanket of white as far as the eye could see, I shoveled a little out the side door to the driveway, admittedly very little, and removed the snow from our windshields, went to “the Bear cave” and cleaned the snow off the steps and checked temperature and correspondence. I went back home and it was still snowing, by now the song was beginning to annoy me. The young man next door who takes care of our lawns in the summer, leaves in the fall, and snow in the winter was on the job, good thing as I was on the radio (WRDV FM) that night and needed to get my car on the road.

Wednesday morning there was still a very light snow falling as I went to the “Bear Cave” for our weekly visit, I took the official measuring stick and checked the three sections that give me an average depth, today the average was unanimous, 9 ½” of snow. We did not lose power, we did not run out of milk, bread, or toilet paper, and we did not panic. We had grilled cheese sandwiches and hot tomato soup, we had lasagna, and in the evening hot Ovaltine, all was well.

According to records Montgomery County had snowfalls that varied from Trappe with 15” to North Wales with 8.3”. The county also reported; 248 accidents, 57 of these on Tuesday, 294 disabled vehicles, and 3,898 911 calls between noon Sunday and 11 AM Tuesday. We were told roads remain dangerous and were urged to stay home. County Commissioner Val Arkoosh warned that (main) roads were icy and dangerous in spots. Side roads were in many areas unplowed. Armed with such knowledge there were still 248 automobile accidents. I am sure there are many who were considered essential and had to venture out; police, fire, EMT’s, Doctors, nurses, and those faced with the task of clearing the roads for safe passage, I ask how many were possessed of greater knowledge and ventured out because, well just because. Did these same people wear a mask, remain socially distanced, or really need to be on the road? While it is human nature to question everything and feel indestructible, maybe we need to take a look beyond the immediate facts and consider the “big picture”, how many of the essential people were put into harm’s way, placed under undue stress because someone just had to get behind the wheel and go somewhere? Maybe it is true “Too soon we grow old, too late smart.” Thanks Dad.