The Scoop on Snow
So it's Sunday morning and I'm sitting at home right now with a mug of hot apple cider instead of being at church where I would normally be at this time. There's a couple inches of snow on the ground, fivish in some of the drifts. Doesn't sound that bad, right? I got a call from a church leader letting me know that our regular meetings were cancelled and replaced with an abbreviated meeting for those who could get there.
Now I know for some of you, you're thinking, "What? It's only a couple inches! That's easy to deal with." And you're probably laughing at us silly Kansans who can't deal with a few little inches of snow.
I'll admit it, I've had my share of laughs at and scorn for those in southern states or California who feel the need to get all bundled up for 50 degree weather. (For my fans outside the US, that's 50 Fahrenheit, not Celsius!) I laugh and say, "Oh you poor dears! You have no clue!"
Do you realize just how true those words are? As we start seeing the pictures on Facebook mocking our southern friends' lack of understanding of snow, do we really consider that they seriously don't understand snow? I mean think about it, some of these areas probably don't see snow at all during the year. When suddenly it does show up, they are completely unprepared even for a small amount. They don't have fleets of snowplows like our northern friends do. Their winter weather department is probably limited to light coats and scarves and mittens for the truly warm-blooded. A snow shovel? What would you do with it?
The same kind of thing happens in the north, you know. Only most of us don't dare mock the souls lost in heat waves when they have no air conditioning. Up north, a lot of areas don't get hot enough to warrant air conditioning. You open a few windows and let that nice breeze in and everything's better. Even if it's still a little warm, it's livable. Living down here in Kansas, the idea of going without air conditioning is like trying to live without oxygen. Seriously? Who would do that?
Then there are the other factors many people don't consider when they start pointing fingers of scorn at the way certain areas handle the weather. I live in a small town surrounded by farms and fields. Many of the students in our school district live on dirt roads. Do you really think a snow plow is going to go clean that up in a storm? Here's a hint, the answer starts with an "N". If there's more than a couple inches of snow, our buses struggle to get to these students' homes to pick them up. I understand why our district closes school on days that the district I grew up in (a well-populated suburb) would have still gone.
And, I understand why our leaders changed the meetings at church for today. Our congregation's boundaries are very large. We have members living in very small towns, like my family, and many others who live in the country. For some it's a 45 minute drive in nice weather. The streets aren't cleared on Sunday out here. People are worshipping and enjoying their day of rest. And that's one of the things I love about our little town. My husband had already left before we got the call. I was staying home anyway with sick kiddos. But had they been feeling better, our whole family probably would have made the trip. The roads aren't too bad and the snow has stopped, at least for now.
Now, I'm not saying that you can't giggle a little when you hear about schools closing for a just a few inches. And I'm not saying you can't giggle at the bundled up Californians in their 50 degree weather. (Sorry, California, it's just funny!) But try not to be snide about it. This country is huge and the climate is sometimes night and day different between one state and another. Heck, it can be different within one state! Let's show a little understanding and a lot of kindness. Just because you're used to lots of snow, doesn't mean the guy born and raised in Florida is.
And now, I'm going to go make another mug of cider and cuddle up with my kiddos on the couch. Enjoy a beautiful day, wherever you are. :)
P.S. And it's okay to giggle at the silly Kansans who don't understand snow. ;)
Now I know for some of you, you're thinking, "What? It's only a couple inches! That's easy to deal with." And you're probably laughing at us silly Kansans who can't deal with a few little inches of snow.
I'll admit it, I've had my share of laughs at and scorn for those in southern states or California who feel the need to get all bundled up for 50 degree weather. (For my fans outside the US, that's 50 Fahrenheit, not Celsius!) I laugh and say, "Oh you poor dears! You have no clue!"
Do you realize just how true those words are? As we start seeing the pictures on Facebook mocking our southern friends' lack of understanding of snow, do we really consider that they seriously don't understand snow? I mean think about it, some of these areas probably don't see snow at all during the year. When suddenly it does show up, they are completely unprepared even for a small amount. They don't have fleets of snowplows like our northern friends do. Their winter weather department is probably limited to light coats and scarves and mittens for the truly warm-blooded. A snow shovel? What would you do with it?
The same kind of thing happens in the north, you know. Only most of us don't dare mock the souls lost in heat waves when they have no air conditioning. Up north, a lot of areas don't get hot enough to warrant air conditioning. You open a few windows and let that nice breeze in and everything's better. Even if it's still a little warm, it's livable. Living down here in Kansas, the idea of going without air conditioning is like trying to live without oxygen. Seriously? Who would do that?
Then there are the other factors many people don't consider when they start pointing fingers of scorn at the way certain areas handle the weather. I live in a small town surrounded by farms and fields. Many of the students in our school district live on dirt roads. Do you really think a snow plow is going to go clean that up in a storm? Here's a hint, the answer starts with an "N". If there's more than a couple inches of snow, our buses struggle to get to these students' homes to pick them up. I understand why our district closes school on days that the district I grew up in (a well-populated suburb) would have still gone.
And, I understand why our leaders changed the meetings at church for today. Our congregation's boundaries are very large. We have members living in very small towns, like my family, and many others who live in the country. For some it's a 45 minute drive in nice weather. The streets aren't cleared on Sunday out here. People are worshipping and enjoying their day of rest. And that's one of the things I love about our little town. My husband had already left before we got the call. I was staying home anyway with sick kiddos. But had they been feeling better, our whole family probably would have made the trip. The roads aren't too bad and the snow has stopped, at least for now.
Now, I'm not saying that you can't giggle a little when you hear about schools closing for a just a few inches. And I'm not saying you can't giggle at the bundled up Californians in their 50 degree weather. (Sorry, California, it's just funny!) But try not to be snide about it. This country is huge and the climate is sometimes night and day different between one state and another. Heck, it can be different within one state! Let's show a little understanding and a lot of kindness. Just because you're used to lots of snow, doesn't mean the guy born and raised in Florida is.
And now, I'm going to go make another mug of cider and cuddle up with my kiddos on the couch. Enjoy a beautiful day, wherever you are. :)
P.S. And it's okay to giggle at the silly Kansans who don't understand snow. ;)
No comments have been added yet.
