It’s happening! We’ve been hearing about it on the news for a few days and it’s not even here yet! But it is happening: the dreaded winter snowstorm/nor’easter. Depending on what model is followed, we’re either going to get half a foot or nearly two feet. No matter what way it goes, it’s looking pretty definite that we are going to get some significant snow in Verona sometime this weekend. (Sorry kids, no matter what way you slice it the storm will be over by Sunday evening so a snow day is pretty doubtful, but we can always hope for a delayed opening!)
It’s winter, we’ve got to expect (and accept) snow. We don’t have to like it. (Although some of us jump up and down for joy when it arrives.) We WILL bitch about it. But it’s a fact of life living in the northeast part of the country. It’s winter; we will get snow.
Since we know it’s coming, let’s be prepared. And I’m not talking about panicking and running to the grocery store for the bread and milk. Trust me, we CAN all live for a few days without bread and milk, although it certainly helps to stock up prior to the storm on food supplies (who wants to run out to Kings or Foodtown during a storm or after when the shelves have been depleted??) A few tips from the lady who has lived through quite a few New Jersey winters:
- Making sure your vehicle has more than a half tank of gas. If you have to go out, traffic will move slower than usual and you might need that extra fuel. It will also weigh you down a bit and you might need that traction.
- If you have a snow blower, make sure it is gassed up and ready to go. Doesn’t hurt to start it before the storm hits so that you know all is well. Store it in a place that is easily accessible. We keep ours in the garage most of the year, but getting to the garage is not fun in the snow, so the day before or of the storm, we move it around to the front of the house, cover it with a tarp and we’re ready to go and blow!
- If you don’t have a snow blower, make sure your shovels are in place when you can get to them easily. We keep ours on the stoop by the front door, so we can shovel out the stairs and get to the snow blower. If you really want to be prepared, keep a broom out there too.
- Layer up when going outside. You know you need the hats, gloves, coat and scarf. When you start out, you know you’re going to be cold. But as you exert yourself, you should be able to “shed your skin.”
- Let the family know that cleaning up snow is NOT a one-person job. Nobody likes to shovel (as far as I know), but it goes faster when everyone works together. (Even the littlest of kids can brush snow off steps.) Cleaning up snow, even when using a snow blower, is hard work. Working together makes the job go faster and is SAFER.
- Speaking of speed, no one wins a medal for cleaning up the snow first. (At least not that I am aware of.) While you DO need to clean up, it’s not a race. Take your time, and be careful. (And whatever you do, don’t throw your snow into the street! It’s a big no-no in Verona!) You want a clean walk, not a trip to the hospital.
- Help out your neighbors. If you’ve got a snow blower and they don’t, why not help out a little? (A little good karma can go a long way!) And if there’s a fire hydrant nearby, don’t forget to shovel that too. Here’s hoping our fire department doesn’t need it, but if they did, wouldn’t you want them to be able to access it quickly?
- Don’t expect your newspaper or mail (depending on when the storm hits). Remember, delivery people have to deal with the weather too. Isn’t their safety worth more than having a newspaper in your driveway by 8 in the morning?
- Make the most of shut-in time. If the weather outside is frightful, it’s the perfect time for some inside family time (or some “me” time). When there’s no place you have to run to, it’s the perfect time to relax. It could be family movie day. It could be cooking that meal that you never get around to, or baking cookies for that neighbor who helped you shovel out. Take the time to ENJOY the time.
Beth Shorten is a life-long resident of Verona. You can read more of her writing on her personal site, Bfth’s Boring Blog.
