Since the majority of us grew up around snow, one would think we can handle it, even when we get a big blast such as the one that hit our area Monday.
Yes, one would think.
The truth is much different.
It seems the minute our fair city gets past - oh let's say about the 10 centimetre mark - it turns into a post-apocalyptic world where all rules go out the window.
People start walking down the street, drivers drive on the wrong side of the road, cats sleep with dogs, zombies attack, people are standing in the middle of the street balancing on one leg. It's Thunderdome.
OK, I might have made a couple of those up. But, oddly enough, not the one about the person standing in the middle of the road on one leg.
Truth is, we do seem to lose our common sense when we get a big pile of snow in a short timeframe.
It obviously isn't fun when something like that happens; especially when we had been lulled into believing the worst of winter was behind us. But it becomes even less fun when people lose their minds and their common sense.
Let's take, for example, the people that decide to drive through a foot and a half of snow in their car that has about one foot of clearance. I'm no scientist, but common sense would tell you that isn't going to have a positive outcome.
Or how about the people with snowblowers that feel the urge to blow the snow onto the street? That would be the same street that has more than it's fair share of snow on it already. I get that in some places you have no choice. But when you're in front of your house and elect to blow the snow onto the street instead of your lawn, you deserve a kick in the ass.
I also want to thank whomever took a front end loader down my back alley and completely plowed in my driveway. It made for a great workout but again, a little common sense please.
The fortunate part is a storm such as the one we got also brings out the best in people. I've heard more than a few stories about people coming home to find someone had already cleared out their driveway or front sidewalk. I am fortunate to have had someone clear my front sidewalk Monday - and a number of times throughout the winter. Great neighbours like that are fantastic to have.
And everytime I came across one of those cars who dared to go through somewhere they shouldn't have and got stuck, there was a minimum of three people already there helping push them out.
There have been other great stories from around the province about people getting stranded in the middle of nowhere and someone who stepped forward to ensure they had a place to stay for the night.
It's what makes this province great. We come together to make sure that everyone makes it through the storm safe and sound - even when you'd rather leave them in the bloody snowbank they drove into.
I still have no idea why that guy was standing on one leg in the middle of the road. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail them to [email protected]
