First Snowfall

Hi everyone! Welcome back to Blogville, I’m so glad you can join me. I am sipping on a Honey Lemon tea as I write to you today. I am stepping away from the adoption theme today as the last few days, here in Northern Ontario, have been weather challenging to say the least. But we Northerners are a unique breed of people and when it comes to winter preparedness, we definitely have our priorities.


First, came the rain. We Northerners could not believe our eyes. Rain? In November? We were surfing the internet and texting each other to see if what we were seeing was correct. There were already a few centimetres of snow on the ground, and then rain, in November. What will we do if it changes to snow we asked each other. ‘Don’t worry, we’re Northerners!’, was the usual reply. Well, the snow came again, right on the heels of that rain. It was only 0 degrees yesterday we assured ourselves, not really cold enough to snow. . .right? Until we got dumped on, confirming that we were wrong.


Hubby and I decided to venture out for a late breakfast before heading to the store for some grocery shopping and I swear that what I’m about to share with you is true. The first challenge was clearing off the car, freeing it from the ice and snow;. The next challenge was getting the doors to open given the ice covered state of the door handles. We were grateful that the days of needing to use a key in the door handle were behind us but trying to clear the ice enough to push the unlock button proved just as challenging. 


We ran (as fast as people in their 60s can run) into the restaurant through the pouring rain. We shook our coats off in the foyer and were seated in a window booth. As we enjoyed our poached eggs and toast we watched the rain slowly stop and the sky open up to release. . .you guessed it, SNOW! The restaurant owner was walking from table to table asking people to be really careful out in the parking lot as it was icing over (and it is sloped). We could hear people congratulating themselves for thinking to bring or wear their clamp-ons (essentially boot grippers for snow and ice) as my husband and I looked down at our summer shoes. 


Realizing we were about to star in our own ‘Ice Capades’ clown performance we left the restaurant and made our way to our vehicle in the parking lot. We are pretty sure those clamp-on owners were actually smiling as they watched our performance. Cartoon versions of ourselves weaved, bobbed, and waddled across the sheets of ice toward our vehicle, holding hands (as we were in this together)! I was laughing hysterically at our performance on the unexpected icy surface. Incredibly, we actually made it without hitting the ice covered surface with anything but our shoes! I could almost hear the applause of the restaurant patrons who witnessed our performance as we got into our vehicle. 


There was a part of us that knew the clamp-on owners in the restaurant who weren’t watching our Ice Capade performance were instead on their phones searching the Ministry of Transportation’s website to find out what the earliest possible date is that they are allowed to put chains on their vehicle tires. I bet if you look at the date and looked up the top website searches on that date you would find MTO and the weather channel tied for first place. I’m pretty sure that calls for winter tire sales and/or installation appointments increased a hundred percent that day. Note that those same winter tires that had been on sale in May and October were either back to regular price or even a higher price effective that first snowfall day. 


Speaking of shopping, all those winter shovels, scoops, salt/sand mixes that shoppers walked past (in denial) for the last few months were now hot commodities. Within hours of the first snowflake hitting the dirt those items were flying off the shelves and landing in shopping carts right beside toques, mittens, and scarves. Looking for snow related items would be like searching for hen’s teeth within hours of the first snowfall. People would then drop their purchases in their entranceways while they ran out to sweep snow off of their barbecues, kiddie pools, and large pool covers. An unexpected snowfall draws Northerners out to protect their summer outdoor toys like a drip of honey on the sidewalk draws out ants. 


Northerners have their priorities though. First, does the driver’s side window open? This is a priority. This window is the portal to an overwhelmingly popular activity known as the Drive Thru! Imagine not being able to order your hot beverage, or hot meal, while remaining in the comfort of your snow-cleared vehicle because you forgot to ensure that the window would open. The worst part? You are already in the queue with cars ahead of, and behind you. Is this the day you will have to wait in line, ignore the repeated sound of “may I take your order” as you sheepishly drive past the order box and then wave sadly to the staff member looking quizzically at you literally ‘driving through’ and leaving without making a purchase?  Or, if you are quick, maybe you can jump out with a credit card that you can shove down between the vehicle chassis and the window glass until you hear the distinctive ‘pop’ when the ice releases the glass so you can drive ahead and place your order. Another approach I have seen is opening the back window and having the back seat passenger make the order, pay, and take in the order, all from a back window. I have also seen vehicles drive a little forward, past the restaurant window, and then open the driver’s door just enough to pay for and grab the order. We are a creative bunch who live in Northern Ontario. Visitors are always welcome!


Thank you for stopping by Blogville today my friends. As always, I love to hear from you with your comments about today’s blog. If you prefer a more private communication, please feel free to email me at [email protected] ‘See’ you next time, take care of each other.