No to snow dusting, but Merry Christmas
As fervently as you might wish, I don't think we'll have snow for Christmas. Plenty of folks will utter a collective sigh at this, but I'm not one of them. As grinchy as it may seem, I'm not crazy about snow at Christmas-time.
It makes traveling a nightmare and inhibits community presence in the worst way. There are people you absolutely have to visit (like the ma-in-law, auntie June and your older brother, Ralph); those you haven't seen in a while and would like to, and shut-ins who would love some company at a particularly lonely time of year.
Snow impedes all of the above, and that's just the beginning!
In addition, you have to shovel the stuff. What's worse on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day than bundling up in more gear than astronauts wear for a space walk and going out to shovel for a couple of hours? Then have the plow fill in the driveway the second you turn your back?
Oh, yeah. Been there, done that. It really takes the fun out of the holiday when your body's aching, your knees are sprung and every movement for the next week revisits the memory of that wonderful Christmas snow.
I was chatting with someone the other day, discussing this particular topic, and she said, “Well, a little dusting would be nice, right?�
I'd like to agree, but can't go there. “A little dusting� in these parts can quickly become a blizzard with a decent wind off the Bay, so no thanks. No “little dusting� for me.
I think local police agencies will agree: a bit of snow is worse than a couple of feet. When we're hit with a significant snowfall, most people have the good sense to stay home, hunker down and make sure the woodstove's lit and you have plenty of water on hand. We've learned through bitter experience it's better to wait out a storm than venture too far in it, and that's simply using common sense. There are fewer accidents, less headaches and many more people safe.
It's the slight accumulation that's often problematic. It makes roads treacherous and the volume is sufficient to fool folks into thinking it can be managed. People rush madly about to do that last minute shopping and place themselves blindly at the mercy of a seemingly inconsequential “light dusting.�
No, snow at this time of year - with the abundance of stress, traffic and general mayhem the holiday brings - might be appealing esthetically; trust me - we don't need it.
The spirit of Christmas lives in each of us: in our hearts and minds and in the way we embrace and communicate goodwill to others. Snow might be nice to charm the senses and make the lights glow that much brighter, but the other side of the coin is equally as attractive - and practical, too.
Don't bemoan a green Christmas, as bleak as some say it is. It's a saving grace as the holidays unfold. Enjoy it for all it brings and have a very Merry Christmas.
