Okay, five. I figured 10 would be easy to find but five good things about this record-setting Arctic winter was all I could muster. As I write this column, another foot of snow is predicted and probably will have fallen by the time you read this. So while I’m still feeling upbeat, I’m quickly sending this to my editor.
As I see it, here are five good things about this winter.
1
The school year will last longer. Remembering the phrase—“But there’s nothing to do”—and the frustration of dealing with summer-bored kids, I’m guessing there will be a number of happy parents when school districts announce extra make-up days at this year’s end. (Parents—it’s okay to feel that way although it might be best to hide it.)
2
It’s been a good winter to learn how to pick and choose the best weather forecasters, which is to say—the most positive ones. By now, we’ve forgiven the TV forecasters for their continuing bad news, and I do have my favorites. Channel Ten’s morning guy is calm, and if he says a blizzard is coming, I believe him. That I like. Channel Ten’s evening guy is a bit dramatic. I don’t need to hear that another piece of cold has broken free from the North Pole or that 16 inches of snow might fall. I like my weather guys subdued and always upbeat.
3
It’s been a good winter to improve building skills as many residents redo smashed mailboxes. I have all the admiration in the world for the county plow guys who have moved mountains of snow this winter, but rural mailboxes have been collateral damage. True to the undaunted spirit of northlanders, many mailboxes have been fixed and replaced. I call that true optimism.
Even though I pick up my mail at the post office, that hasn’t been worry-free either. Parking cars on ever-shrinking streets is not fun. However, after navigating Duluth’s narrow, snowfilled streets, I have no complaints about Cook County.
4
It’s been a good winter to finish unfinished “projects.” I’m currently in the middle of a “room painting project from hell,” and when that’s finished, will launch into defrosting the old freezer. Not my first choice of how to spend a day, but when it’s still snowing and cold, why not?
5
It’s been a great winter for pigging out on old-fashioned comfort food without guilt. The calories will be burned by shoveling, plowing or simply walking through snowdrifts. I can’t remember when I’ve served more hearty stews and thick rib-sticking soups. I even hauled out my bread dough hook and mixer and baked a few loaves. As for desserts… why not have another piece of apple pie with a scoop of ice cream?
And what’s better than sipping hot chocolate in a warm, cozy house, watching the snow fall…and fall…and fall.
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