I’m writing this piece, with a deadline a few days ahead of Christmas Day. It appears that there is a very small chance that we will have received a dusting of snow for our Sanpete Christmas. Of course, things might change between this writing and Christmas Day. It’s possible that we’ll get warm weather, which would change the whole forecast. Pigs may fly too.

My recollection is that we’ve had one semi-decent snowstorm so far this season. Driving in the snow is always my worry.

If I’m driving on the highway when the road hasn’t been plowed, I always thank goodness for the rumble strips on the side of the road. Between that and the reflection posts that come into view every so often, that’s what lets me know where I am on the road.

Winter is upon us. Last Thursday, the 21st, was astronomically the first day of winter. The Winter Solstice signals the northern hemisphere being tilted away from the sun, thus making the winter season official. The good news is that the days are getting longer now.

When I think of snow, my thoughts quickly turn to backaches and heart attack prevention. It’s always with fear that I shovel the blanket of snow off the driveway and sidewalks. I’ve mentioned some of this here before in some way or another.

I sometimes take a baby aspirin before I head out to shovel snow. I used to take aspirin most days on the advice of a doctor. But I’ve heard that doctors aren’t recommending it as often as they used to. Medical advice seems to always be changing. (Except the part about that I’m not supposed to eat anything that looks good, smells good or tastes good.) (Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. But I’ve heard and read that if you believe you’re having a heart attack, you should take aspirin and chew it and call 911)

As I shovel snow, I chant in my mind, “Lift with your legs, lift with your legs.” I alternate that chant with, “Dying in the snow won’t be that bad, Dying in the snow won’t be that bad.”

I believe that if I die in the snow, at least my body will be preserved in ice and that I’ll be found rosy cheeked and perhaps smiling. The smile would be motivated by my last cognitive thought of, “Great, I’m done shoveling snow — forever.”

There are aspects of shoveling snow that aren’t so bad, really. The fresh crisp air is enjoyable. The stares of the neighborhood deer are entertaining.

Deer are like unleashed dogs in my neighborhood. They look at me as if to say, “Thanks for letting us eat the neighborhood gardens this year. But what have you done for us lately?”

The part I hate about shoveling snow, besides the inevitable backache and fears of premature death, is the boring routine of it. I scrape and shovel the same areas over and over and over again…. and again (obviously).

It’s that same draggy thing as other chores of life – like making the bed. Boring routines that repeat and repeat…and repeat. Ad nauseum.

Sooo… Christmas is behind us. People have been asking me all month long, “Are you ready for Christmas.” I usually answer, “I find that Christmas happens whether I’m ready or not.” I guess I’m done with that question for another year.

I learned a new answer though this year. A woman told me that when her husband is asked if he’s ready for Christmas, he replies, “Ask my wife.”

The thing that some of us, me included, need to be more aware of, I’m thinking, is whether we’ve helped others be ready for Christmas. If you’re like me, you don’t have a lot of expectations for Christmas other than a fun, peaceful time to gather with friends and family.

I personally need to remember that there are things I can do for those in my circle of family, friends, neighbors, and yes, strangers, who need (not want) more “readiness for Christmas.”

Even now that the holiday is over, we need to remember those in need. Kindness and giving is not a one-shot, once a year kind of deal.

Back to the snow topic – I just checked the Old Farmer’s Almanac. “Expect a white Christmas,” the almanac wrote, with the heaviest snowfalls in middle to late November, early and late January, and the final winter burst in mid-February.

With a little more research, I find that the Almanac claims an 80% overall accuracy for its weather predictions. That’s pretty impressive for as long range as they predict the weather.

Otherwise, here’s my advice for this winter: Drive slower than normal. Watch for trees when sledding. Keep your kids and grandkids out of the yellow snow. Keep warm. Keep shoveling. Keep an aspirin in your pocket. Happy Winter Sanpete! — Merrill

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