Southern Style Winter Storm

Well, winter finally arrived in our neck of the woods! During the winter storm that is currently gripping much of the nation, we got about a half inch of snow and perhaps another half inch of sleet / freezing rain. Temperatures will remain uncharacteristically below freezing for a few days. I believe it’s been at least four years since our last measurable snow accumulation here. Unfortunately, despite the beauty outdoors, our area is completely unequipped to deal with these conditions and no doubt this “winter storm” will paralyze our little corner of society for a few days. The kids are happy!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’ve lived in New York, Germany and Korea where they know how to do winter! I love those places immensely, even the winters, but I grew up in the south and if possible, will always seek to winter where snowfall is uncommon.  I’ll take the occasional half inch “winter storm” any day!

That being said, I won’t drive in it! Like many people raised in the south, I have an innate fear of driving in snow and ice. I’ve managed to navigate winter driving over the years when we lived in colder areas but didn’t care for it…at all. One particular story comes to mind. In February of 2008 we were living in Kansas and for some unknown reason I thought it would be a great idea to pack up the family and check out Minneapolis over the long President’s Day weekend.

It’s a straight shot just a few hundred miles due north of Kansas City through Iowa. What’s the worst that could happen in February? We made the trip up to Minnesota fine, but over the weekend a real winter storm hit. Not only could we not even get out of our hotel room to explore Minneapolis, but also the trip back took over eight hours and was some of the most terrifying, icy driving this southern boy will ever experience! I think I took a few years off my life on that trip.

Luckily, I learned my lesson- check the weather and don’t drive in the snow unless it’s an absolute emergency. It is for this very reason, I will sit here today, drink my coffee, look out the window and enjoy the seldom seen beauty of winter in the south. I sure as heck am not going out in it! I know folks in the Northern part of the U.S. are probably laughing at Southerners right now and that’s fine by me!  

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