Hot and Cold in the Same Day

There is an old saying about the weather in Missouri, and it goes something like this: "If you don't like it, wait a day." This winter has been solid proof of that old proverb. We have had cold blasts that caused major snow or ice, yet before the week is over, it has warmed enough to quickly melt and spawn tornado outbreaks. The roller coater effect has really taken us for a ride this go-around.

As I write today, I am a teacher experiencing a third straight "snow day" from school, looking out the window at a winter landscape of snow and ice that should begin disappearing today and will quickly be gone tomorrow. Of course, that is if the forecast proves true, but the local weather centers have been hitting it pretty close lately. Despite feeling some serious cabin fever and having my vehicle windshield crack yesterday, I have to count my blessings as this ice has taken power out for thousands of people. The heater has stayed on in our house.

The people that have to get out and work in this environment, cleaning and repairing lines, have my respect and appreciation. I know some people will say that these individuals chose this line of work, though I am not completely sure of that. You have to earn a living somehow, and these jobs can be readily available. As someone who has been out in it to feed livestock before, I can testify how quick I am ready to get back indoors, and the service people that are out there all day I am sure have tales to tell. Again, to you out there working in the conditions, I can't thank you enough.

Being a teacher in the Show-Me state has its challenges as well when it comes to encouraging the students to be prepared. We try to tell some of them that it is winter and they need to have a coat with them everyday. A prime example of what can happen did a couple of weeks back. The morning started out mild in the 50s and a lot of students showed up in T-shirts, yet as forecast, we had a nasty drop and when school was dismissed, the wind chill was in the single digits. I guess you have to allow the school of hard knocks to teach its course at that point, yet it is hard to see the kid walking out in it with bare arms. At least the buses have heaters.

Well, the temperature is climbing today, and hopefully we will all be back to our normal routines again very soon. However, if any lesson can come out of this, I would have to say we need to refer to the motto of the scouts: be prepared. This is the way you have to approach Missouri weather. It won't stay nice for long, yet thankfully, it won't stay ugly for long either. Just remember, spring is on the way!