Snow Drama

Richmond is big on snow drama. Having grown up in Boston and experienced the infamous Blizzard of '78, I have to chuckle and say, "Bless their hearts." There is widespread panic, confusion, and the inevitable possessed mob at Ukrop's stocking up on basic provisions of milk, bread, and brownie bites. (If you don't know what a "brownie bite" is, you need to add it to your bucket list! I can mail you a couple!)

We've had the forecast for snow out there lingering all week, fodder for much speculation and conversation. "Ready for the
snow? What have you heard? How much are we going to get?" we all asks each other even though we are all reading the same forecast. As my friend Mary noted, "Everyone gases up their car and then doesn't go anywhere." That is definitely true, but we're all ready to roll in case of emergency, such as running out to stock up some more brownie bites. (The ones with creme cheese frosting on top are my favorite -- and the most caloric, I'm sure. What can I say? I've got good taste.)

In Richmond's defense, here they only plow the main roads. And when I say "main road," I mean a MAIN ROAD. In lawyer-speak, the term is quite strictly construed. Midlothian Turnpike? Sure! Salisbury Road, the main drag through our huge neighborhood the size of a small town? No. And when I say "no," I mean HELL NO! This is not even right at the beginning or end of the storm, this is never ever.

Back in the day when I was a wee lass, I still remember hearing the sound of the plows scraping against the tar on the road all night long. Heck, you could eat off the roads they were so clear! Then sometimes the roads would start getting a tad icy. Before you could say "Hahvahd Yahd," the trusty trucks were right there dropping sand and salt all over the road, enough to scrape the finish on the chassis of your car. (Pronounced "cah.")

The snow cancellations here are what really crack me up. Not long ago, we got barely a dusting, no exaggeration. Honest to God school was delayed for TWO HOURS. It's a good thing I don't have an elementary-aged kid. We would have been standing around the bus stop forever wondering where the heck everyone else was and trying to figure out what holiday we totally missed.

Richmond's ready for some snow. We're stocked up, gassed up, and soon to be liquored up! Bring it on!

LibbY