Thursday, February 26, 2015

Southern Snow

Southern Snow. What is it about snow in the South that drives Southerners to drive in circles in grocery store parking lots, jockeying for a slot so they can go help clear the shelves of bread and milk and other mysteriously essential items to have in your house when they predict Southern Snow?

What is it about people who will stand in a line to check out two items in the grocery store when the line snakes around the entire store and the store manager queues when you can access a cashier. (Well, it does prevent cart busting log jams and frazzled nerves of the most un-frazzelable.)

And then whether it is two inches or ten inches, the cancellations pour into announcement centers. But everything can't be cancelled. You can't cancel the hospital. My daughter-in-law works there. You can't cancel the power & light folks - Duke Energy. My son works there. You can cancel school (thankfully we do keep the kiddies safe). You can't cancel your public safety - police and fire protection.

Well, here in middle North Carolina we got 8" or so of snow last night. It's the pretty kind that drapes all over everything - bare branches, pines, tree trunks, fences, streets. Houses and cars are hooded in a heavy layer. One gas station roof collapsed (over the fuel tanks) because of the heavy snow.
But it is one of those nice snows that folks make snow cream out of. That kids play in endlessly.
Power outages? Sure. But not like when we get ice. Ice is bad. Snow can be nice. Until it melts a bit and then everything freezes over and the black ice creates hazards that end up either in the ER or the mortuary.

Snow in the South? Mixed emotions. I love it. I hate it. Right now, I'm keeping my old bones inside a warm, toasty house. I enjoyed lots of wonderful Chai tea in my lovely "heart" tea cup. And I thought about the Southern Snows I'd seen and lived through in the past. Southern Snow is beautiful.

18 comments:

  1. And as a footnote - Southern Snow melts away a lot faster than Northern Snow

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  2. Yes, it is always extremely odd how southern folk can act when getting Winter precipitation. We here in NorthEast Texas received 5.5 inches from this same storm, enough to actually make a snowman, not that we in the South have much experience, most likely do the fact that it starts melting as fast as we can make them!

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  3. When my hubby was in the Air Force, we were stationed in North Carolina. We were there for almost 5 years. We got to experience the Southern Snow phenomenon that you're talking about. As people who have always lived in the northern part of the country, we were just shocked that so many people were in such a panic. To us it was something barely noteworthy, but to those who were inexperienced when it comes to dealing with that kind of nasty weather and the damages it can do, it was, indeed, panic inducing.

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  4. I don't mind snow here in Arkansas, as long as it's actual snow and not ice, and nobody in my family has to drive in it. The last time I tried, I was coming home from work, and watched the car in front of me do a complete 360 degree turn. I was too scared to move for a long time after that, but finally continued on. I live on a dirt road, in the middle of a hill, and when I started up it, there was a guy turned sideways right in front of my driveway. I didn't know what to do, so I called my father, who brought his tractor out and pulled the guy up the hill, then pulled me into the driveway. Thank goodness for Daddies!

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  5. This was an almost complete dry winter in Utah, but we are used to the snow but have enjoyed the ease in driving this winter without it!

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  6. This is such a great picture. I am glad the snow is gone.

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  7. I love your picture. The snow makes it look so peaceful and quiet. When it snows here in Nebraska we do the same thing. We run to the store and make sure we have bread and milk. Why just bread and milk, I don't know. This is something I remember my mom doing, and I do and now my daughter does it and I'm sure my grandchildren will carry the tradition on.

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  8. You are totally right about southern snow. I am from Virginia but moved to South Dakota about 7 years ago and I find that I can navigate and get around so much better now. I think that people in SD just ignore the snow and it's like it doesn't exist and nothing stops and everything stays open.

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  9. We have had so much snow this year in the North. The few days that I did not see snow I felt such relief. We are tired of it now! I lived in Florida when I was young and I did not miss the snow.
    twinkle at optonline dot net

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  10. I think our snow from Nebr moved south this year too. I think we only got maybe 12 inches total all Winter.. Welcome Spring!

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  11. Wow! Look at that snow! Makes me so glad I live in California!
    Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

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  12. I'm just so glad it's finally spring! What a winter!

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  13. I live in Ohio and I think it's funny to see Southerners when they get snow. It makes me laugh. I can't imagine never seeing snow in your entire life. That's just crazy! Glad you are warm and toasty inside! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

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  14. We have snow in the forecast for tomorrow after a high temp of 75 degrees today. Colorado weather is crazy.

    slehan at juno dot com

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  15. How pretty is that! I would love to see it and have a cup of tea!

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  16. Marnie G (Derrick Todd)April 4, 2015 at 8:19 AM

    Beautiful picture. Sometimes the snow can appear so peaceful and tranquil however, I'm glad the last of our snow has finally melted.

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  17. I always love a year where we get winter weather. It just brings everyone tigether.

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  18. I just love winter and having a nice cup of tea on a cold day.

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