Swift professes “mixed emotions” about lack of snow this winter

After a spate of fairly mild temperatures, we’ve experienced of late a bunch of really cold days. Some mornings have been bitterly cold. Did we forget that each year we always see some cold snaps? When the weather is mild in late fall and early winter, it’s sometimes hard to imagine that bad weather is ahead. One thing that has been good — at least for some folks — is the lack of serious snow. I have mixed emotions about snow. I like the beauty of snow, but I don’t like the fact that driving in it is dangerous and risky.
It seems to me that the Jet Stream’s pathway takes a more southern route than it once did. I have noted a change in the weather no longer than I’ve been on this earth. If my memory hasn’t failed me, the cold weather and snow is later in the year than it was in my early days. Moreover, that kind of weather seems to last longer in the spring.

I used to hear my grandparents talk about how the weather was when they were young. My grandparents lived in the country. I’ve heard them say the creeks in Johnson County would freeze over. According to my grandparents and others of that time, the snow got pretty deep at times. Of course in those days when snow was deep, country folks would be snowed in. Those rugged individuals made do with what they had. No tractor would blade the country roads and driveways. It was necessary to take care of daily chores: getting the wood in for the cook stove, fireplace or heating stove; feeding the animals and carrying water from the well or spring. There was no central heating. Early in my grandparents’ days, there were no radios much less television sets. There were no telephones, no computers and few indeed of the work saving devices we currently enjoy.

Often families would gather around the fireplace and sing, tell stories and talk. That may not be a bad idea these days.
Perhaps you have read the lengthy poem, “Snow-Bound,” by John Greenleaf Whittier. That poem describes a New England family’s experiences during a snowstorm in days gone by. It is a good poem to curl up with on a snowy day. Another good read is, “The Snow Storm,” a short poem Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Whittier completed his poem in October of 1865.The poem was published in book form in 1866 and it was reportedly a great success. The first printing of 10,000 copies was sold out by April and more were being printed.

Anyway, we don’t know what the weather has in store for us, but when the snow comes we can know that it was especially rough when my grandparents and others of their time lived. Hopefully, the icy cold weather will be over soon and perhaps the snow will be minimal.

Of course if you are a snow lover you’ll want a lot of the white stuff.