I have lived in the South, specifically Texas, the vast majority of my 47 years. There is a greater than zero chance I will live in this area my entire life. I enjoy the people (though I have met fine people elsewhere), the climate, the diverse scenery, the food and a host of other aspects of life in Texas. However, I was reminded this week end how silly we can be.
Beginning Friday morning, media outlets dedicated themselves to coverage of "The Artic Blast," "Ice Storm," "Icy Blast" and numerous other titles they gave a weather system, which was to pass through this area (North central Texas, DFW area) beginning Saturday evening.
Listening to the radio or watching TV was somewhat akin to having the hiccups. Just as I would have settled into something - there it was. The weather break-in reminding me of the impending doom. It was going to be cold. Not fake cold but actual bone-chilling cold, the roads impassible, the very prospect of survival in question. This stacatto pattern of programming and frequent interruption for announcements regarding the impending freeze continues through today.
I was at the supermarket Friday evening late (11:30 PM) and it was wiped out. Folks were prepared to hunker down and wait out the "Artic Blast."
It was cold this morning with wind chill between 8 - 12 throughout the DFW area. That's considered cold in most all parts of the country. Yet, without certainty, I'd bet we will have a day in the 50s within 10 days. I wonder if the folks in South Dakota will have the same luxury? Maine? Wyoming?
I was reminded throughout the weekend how little perspective we have on cold weather. Yes, I am pleased the area's media outlets are cautious. And, because this area's cities do not possess winter weather resources in large measure (no snow plows in city garages in Dallas, Fort Worth, nor likely any other city or county within 300 miles of here), it was important for citizens in our area to reorient their thinking some regarding highway travel, touch football, popping over to the grocery store, sending the kids out in the yard in the usual attire, etc. BUT was this event worthy of three entire days of almost wall to wall media coverage.
Folks say life in the South is slower. Apparently it is. Although, after a untold number of scenes of cars sliding around on semi-frozen overpasses, I believe I have catalogued most of the slide angle possibilities. Additionally, I am going to undertake a research project to determine if the poor camera operators who get assigned the "Car may slide on overpass" duty set up "squares" games similar to those used for major sporting events to guess what model of vehicle will first loose control, how many vehicles will slide before contact with a stationary object is made, etc.
Well, we survived. We got the rain we sorely needed, city operations' centers got to operate to knock the rust off before the Spring Tornado season, grocery stores were able to practice their run on the bread aisle drills and News anchors got were able to determine how long they could remain "On the Air ready" before make-up touch-ups were needed. All, important items here in the South.
We are so blessed. We get delightful, if unpredictable, weather most all the time. We forget that we do on half a dozen days a year and when we go over the top baby we go WAY over the top.
Stay warm, smile at the beauty of the tree branches iced over in the sun and use a Mapsco to find an alternate route around frozen overpasses so you don't become someone's winning square.
Reporting live from the now thawed Artic Blast,
I'm Bart Castle
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