There's Hope For TodaySample

The snow fell early and stayed late in New Brunswick, my childhood home. Most Christmases were white. We celebrated with snowballs, sleds, toboggans, and snow skis. If we got 10 inches, it was no big deal.

I now live in a city where snow is a nuisance. We rarely have more than two snowfalls per year. People don’t know how to drive in the stuff. Four inches shuts down half of our city. Schools close. People go crazy in grocery stores, clearing the shelves of bread and milk. Eight inches shuts down the other half of the city. Reporters cover the story like Watergate. A festive “holiday” spirit infects people who cannot drive to work, but seem to find a way to get together for a snow party. Twelve inches shuts down everything except monster trucks and the fire department. The storm gets its own name like “Blizzard of ’85” or “The Big Whiteout.”

The difference between New Brunswick and North Carolina is preparation. In Canada, we knew we had to live with lots of snow, so we were prepared for it. In North Carolina, it’s a novelty. If you know a life storm is coming – be prepared for it. If one catches you off guard, don’t panic – ride it out. No storm lasts forever.