Winter Storms

Okay folks, we have a winter storm. That's not so really amazing because it is winter. We have two or three of them every winter, usually followed by spring. But every time they occur, the local channels go non-stop with the weather and STATE OF EMERGENCY coverage. We see pictures of the salt and sand trucks. The guy in charge of them promises that they will be working through the night. We see the pictures of the snowplows. The guy in charge of them promises that they will be working through the night. We see the OG&E spokesman promising that they will be working through the night. We are warned not to get out. If you do go out, remember to pack some gummy bears so you don't starve because you might have to walk upwards of a quarter mile to get to a 7-11. We are told if we are in an accident just to exchange information with the other driver because all of the tow trucks are busy with the drivers who were lucky enough to wreck first.

Every winter event is treated as if it is the first time anything remotely like this has ever happened. Last night the Wal-Mart where my friend Martin works was wiped clean of groceries in a pre-emptory apocalyptic freak-out.

And then it's over. The ice and snow goes away. The weather forecasters go back to their 6 minutes of daily weather coverage. The memories of "Icestorm 2010" fade. We go back to driving 7 mph over the speed limit.

Until the next winter storm. And it starts all over.