I am from the south... specifically Georgia. As most people in the U.S. know, there is a huge snow storm happening in the east. Everyone is talking about shoveling snow for the weekend and 18 inches of snow. 18 inches! What?! That is unheard of down here! Subtract seventeen and you got the amount I usually see a year, if that. Here is what I think of when I think of snow, and how I would feel if I went up north.
How cold? You're serious...?
The cold is wicked down here, but not really. The weather can go from 75 degrees F and sunny to 31 in a day. We had summer heat thunderstorm, snow, rain while completely sunny, and hail within two weeks last year. It's quite common for that type of weather in January through March when the weather is still in the New Years hangover.
I start to shake and my teeth start to chatter at 35-40 degrees F. We can't handle the cold very well. I play varsity tennis and we play in winter- spring. My hands get so number from the weather under 40 degrees that I can't even hold the tennis racket correctly. The girls who aren't playing form a huddle to stay warm against the wind. We sell hand warmers to each other instead of drugs!
Snow! It's snowing!
Sitting in class and looking out the window to see a snow flake is like seeing an angel. The entire class including the teacher is plastered against the window watching those rare little snow flakes fall to the ground. Usually, the teacher lets us go outside and stand in the flurry for about five minutes. Senior or freshman, the excitement is at the same level of off the charts. Once the first snowflake falls, everything turns to chaos with phones out rapidly texting others "Do you see it?! It's snowing!" "School is out!" "Oh my gosh! There's white specks falling from the sky!" "Get the trash bags, garbage can lids, and boogie boards! We're going sledding!!" It's a huge deal. If I ever dated a guy from the north, all he would have to do is show me the snow and Id be like a kid in a candy store and putty in his hands. Id most likely freak out and throw snowballs until summer came.
Go go go... To the store!
If your even hear a word that sounds like snow, RUN to the store. The shelves are most likely already half destroyed and the lines are a mile long. If snow and ice are involved, you will be stuck at the house for a day or two and heaven forbid you run out of milk and bread! I'm not even embarrassed to say my pantry and fridge are stocked with the snow and ice coming even though it's such a small amount that you could hold it in your hand. People are really nice down here and love to socialize and get to know complete strangers, but when the 'S' word (snow) is used, get out of my way, or I will run you over! People turn vicious at the stores. You wanted that last 1%? Yeah right, go find a cow slow poke!
A snow flake? Shut the world down!
Yes. We freak out and literally shut the state down when we hear the word snow. The school systems get scared and will cancel at the potential of snow, even if it's just an inch. Yesterday(Friday) my high school was let out two hours early to get home and prepare for the snow that would happen seven hours later. Georgia shut down in 2014 from two inches of snow. My normal fifteen minute drive home from school turned into three hours because of sliding cars and wrecks. Busses were ditched on the side of the rode and kids walked home (5-10 miles). But hey! Upside is we get MANY snow days!- most of the time it doesn't even snow!
What's the real reason for snow days?...ICE ICE BABY
Unfortunately, the snow in itself does little to get us snow days. Whenever it snows or drops below 32 degrees, the dreaded word 'ice' comes to mind. This is the scariest word in winter for drivers. In seventh grade, my bus got stuck on black ice miles from my neighborhood. I was stuck on that overcrowded bus with kids in all different stages or anger or fear for five to six hours. The bus driver refused to let us call our parents or even use our phones. Some kids fell asleep and others turned on the same songs and started dancing, singing, and rocking the bus until we were told to turn out phones off. Only the guys were able to get off to go to the bathroom. We made the news. I got home at eleven o'clock at night and was still forced to go to school the next day because the ice melted. Like I said, ice is a nightmare and no one handles it right. Whenever it snows, the ground is first covered in an icy slush before a thin layer of snow and to top it off, a thin sheet of ice on top. Very dangerous and painful to walk on. Another reason is that we have NOTHING to clear the snow. We have a lot of salt and a couple of snow plows and that's it!
Snow.... Natures gift that people actually want!
As much as people freak out about snow, we really do love it. I love snow and would love to see more snow than just ankle height. Snow is so beautiful and fun. I love snowmen even if they might have a red or muddy color from the clay and dirt. Golf course hills and the street hills turn into the biggest races of the year.
There's a creek in the woods that freezes over that I go to. It's right at the bottom of the big hill. Upper classman and college kids build ramps and sled down the hill to launch themselves across the creek and let me just say, those competitions got intense. When racing, always shove the other guy into the creek and hope you are able to make it over.
I also remember standing on the round part of the creek that froze over with a friend. The frozen tree branches bent over our head for us to hang onto and we walked across. The last snow storm, the ice didn't hold and I fell into the middle, about thigh deep. I had to pull myself out, but the water didn't feel cold to me at all(probably a bad sign). I couldn't feel the cold. My friend got concerned and made me walk half a mile home and shoved me in the shower to warm up even though I wasn't bothered by trhe frigid water. I wanted to stay out and continue with the fun!
You also meet new people to hang out with and become friends. I have friends that I call my "snow friends" that I call up whenever it snows. It's also a great time to put in a movie, get hot chocolate, pop the popcorn, and cuddle up under blankets at night after a long day of continual playing around outside.
What is your winter/ snow like? : )
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