Snow Daze

This morning slightly more than a dusting blanketed the sidewalks and streets. With a little huff and puff, you could blow the snow off of your windshield to clear it. Yet last night around 9 p.m., schools were announcing two-hour delays. It wasn't even snowing.

As a child, we rarely had snow cancellations or two-hour delays. We would have had to have a blizzard for the notion to even pop into the superintendent's mind. Today, and I sound like an old fogey here, kids have it made. If the weatherman even whispers the phrase "wintry mix", the school board phone tree lights up.

"What should we do?"

"We know the kids will be fine, but what about us? I know I have 4-wheel drive, but am afraid to drive in weather like this."

"OK, we will delay school. Despite the fact that the roads will not be that bad and parents will still need to go to work on time, we will delay. But if the stepping stone in my garden is covered over with snow, I'm flat out cancelling."

I used to live up on a hill, where our road was one of the last hit by the salt truck. I only missed one day of work because of bad weather. The reason I missed, the snow plow piled the snow in front of the driveway. The drift was taller than me, which I know doesn't take much. It took us two-days to dig out. But as a child, my grandfather took us to school no matter what Mother Nature brought. On the rare occasion there was a two-hour delay, my sister and I would be at school at the normal start time. Funny thing, all of the kids who lived "out" were the ones who made it in at the regular start time on those days.

Wouldn't it be nice if other work places ran like a school district in regards to snow policies? If the roads are dangerous because of weather conditions, most of us are required to make it to work on time. If we do not, then we have to work through lunch or after hours to make up the time. We do not get paid for a full delay despite working an abbreviated schedule. I, for one, am fortunate. If the weather was too terrible, I could always work from home.

However, there are few people out there as lucky as me. For some, the two hour delay means missing a whole day's work because there is no one to watch the children for those two extra hours. Not all employers are as generous as mine.

I know that the local school boards will say it is for the safety of the children, but regarding cases like today, I seriously doubt that. Yes, few kids may need some extra time to get in b/c the ridges are a little colder and slightly slicker, but not two hours. School officials need to think about the decisions they are making when it comes to bad weather. Today there was no need to have a delay. Some parents had to call in resources to change their morning game plan that they may not be able to call upon the next time there is a serious need for a delay.

New Year! New You?

At the dawning of each new year, I make a New Year's Resolution. It is typically the same, to loose weight and exercise more, maybe the occasional get organized. I never really thought about it before until now, but I have no idea why I make these resolutions year in and year out.

Obviously, the resolutions are made so that I can improve upon who I am. A fresh year, a fresh start. However, I always seem to fail or get off track. But you know, that is OK because there is always next year. So On Dec. 31st, I make the list and start all over again. I know full well that though I want to make these changes, I will not put forth the full effort because deep down I know there is always next year. A new year is all about second chances, or third, fourth, 30th chances depending on the number of times you have made the same resolution.

A wonderful concept and all, but New Year's Resolutions are nothing more than preconceived failures. Each year I may have the intention to stick with the pledge I make to myself; however, I lack the conviction -- and so do most Americans considering the number of gym memberships that go unused before Valentine's Day even hits.

If we truly wanted to make changes in our lives for the better, than we would and not use the guise of a new year to be our safety net. I know I need to eat better and exercise more. So when I get off track a few months into the new year, why don't I get back on track. Rather, I him-haw around it and wait until December to think about implementing those changes again.

Do I feel bad because I did not accomplish what I set to do January? For the first few weeks of failure. But I realize it is OK, because most people do not stick to those resolutions. It has become acceptable behavior to not reach goals as long as they are tagged with New Year's Resolution. In this Prozac world, we could not live with the depression that comes from setting a goal and not accomplishing it. I mean, it is the failure that makes you feel bad, so to avoid the blame and shame of failure, we put our goals into this fail-safe concept of New Year's Resolutions, because as I have I stated, there is always next year. So, our fragile mental state will not be hurt because we do not fail when we have a back up plan.

If I really had the conviction to make those changes in my life, I would have done it already, despite what the day is. Though I will try like countless others to make a change for the good this brand new 2007, I know I will not succeed. But rather than wait until next year to try again, I will refocus and put forth effort some other day. June 18th feels like a good date.