People who have lived on the West Coast for many years have told me it has been just ages since a winter like this has been on record. So "what's the big deal?", you may ask. Due to the warm temperatures,
everything here turns to ice. And for a dog walking people who walk, bike and generally spend everyday outdoors, (at least a portion of each day), it means navigation of sidewalks and streets has become lethal. As expected, the city crews are not used to the snow & ice and recently construction crews have been taken off their regular jobs and applied to snow & ice removal. As all Albertans know, if you get the fresh snow removed, you have less work to do. Ice is hard to get rid of and it takes a lot more time. West Coast crews don't know this yet!
Well some people know this. In my building the snow blower was out on day one to clear our front drive. (Unfortunately on New Year's Eve, I had to shovel a trail up the parking ramp to get out of the garage! Goodbye hair-do! My curls flopped & my bangs stood right up in protest! They don't do blizzards!)
Aside from all this, we live in a Winter Wonderland. If you find a clear spot to stand and are sure you won't take a tumble, you look up and see the gorgeous surroundings all glistening with diamonds in the sunshine. It takes your breath away to drive down the streets and see the forests all gleaming with fresh snow on every branch.
Even courtyard fountains are entertaining!
A forty year resident of the Lower Mainland told me yesterday that the longest winter weather he had ever experienced lasted 6 weeks. By those calculations, we should have about a week and a half left! We won't even wait for Mr Groundhog!
And that makes me happy. I once asked my Aunt Shirl how she could handle all the rain out here. She replied, "When the daffodils bloom in February, you forget all about it!" Well said.
