About More Snow

The weather forcasters announced very early this morning that by this time tomorrow we are likely to well into another 8 and 12 inches of snow fall for this season.  My first reaction was not again!  It is only December 10th and we have had several snowfalls and an ice storm that left the streets glazed with ice in the past four weeks; my second thought was that I need to get more gas for the snowblower.

Life is all about perspective.  Kids must be ecstatic and likely disappointed that they will not get out of school for a "snow day"; Little Mariam who is coming in from Florida to spend Christmas with Omi will be thrilled; transportation departments and contract snow removal crews are in high gear preparing crews and trucks; and people like me are giving second thought to our driving plans for tomorrow; commuters are grateful it will not be on a work day and still others are celebrating we will have more snow for Christmas than we have had in years though it may impact their ability to go out Christmas shopping.

And then there is my perspective.  Last weekend I cancelled a 15 mile drive to see my granddaughter dance in her first competition as a member of the varsity dance team (she is in eigth grade) rather than fight the snow and drivers who make no adjustments for weather/road conditions.  Her team took first place.  I know I made the right decision and I REALLY missed being there with her and my daughter. Tomorrow she has another competition and again I want to be there!

I used to be willing to get in the car and keep commitments regardless of the snow and regardless of the distance.  Now I pause and I don't like it!  It feels different now.  I am a good driver, and there are so many more drivers on the road going faster than ever regardless of conditions.  I slow down for the conditions but this provides little comfort when trucks, SUVs, semis and cars of all sizes come up on my bumper swerving at the last moment into the other lane so they can maintain their speed - which seems to be their first priority rather than their own lives and the lives of others around them.

Most of my life I have driven mid to full size cars and for about five years drove an SUV.  Then came 2008 when gas prices soared to more than $4.00 per gallon costing over $70 to fill the gas tank rendering events and gatherings requiring 60 miles round trip costly at $16 to $20 for gas alone .

At the same time car sales were beginning to stagnate.  Dealers needing to move cars off their lots began offering very low interest rates on new compact cars (exceptional gas mileage).  So I traded in the SUV and bought a compact car which is SO much smaller and weighs much less than anything I have driven since the early eighties when I had a forest green Dodge Omni. I realize this morning that if I were still driving the mid to full size car or SUV, I wouldn't even consider cancelling my plans.  The security provided by size and weight is very real.

Guess I will go buy the snowblower gas so I too am ready.  Tomorrow I will decide on whether or not I will head out onto the freeway in my compact car.  I am having big car envy today! Still thinkin' ... ...