Oregonians and snow are a poor match

 

Jeani Martin
The Advocate

Why does Portland and the greater metropolitan area go into shell shock with the talk of snow?

Is it because the water that falls from the sky has changed from its regularly clear status to white?

Lets think this through….After the dog days of summer are gone, we slowly aclimate ourselves back into rain.

Being from the Northwest, we take pride in the liquid sky and being able to function in a wet society. We can spot a new resident to the area on those very days. You may even yell a few profane words their way or show a finger or two.

So why is it every year, when the snow comes, the skills we gained the year before are gone.

It’s like we get some sort of weird snow amnesia. With this strange disorder, we flock to the nearest Home Depot and Les Schwab, whip out a credit card, and try to spend the snow away.

This doesn’t seem to be working.

It is not helping that every news channel in the metro area is repeating over and over the impending doom that is going to happen when the fluff hits the air.

Who wouldn’t be a little aprehensive after an assault by the television media?

At least they give some good advice: slow down or stay home.

If you choose to slow down, that doesn’t mean slam on your breaks. It means be cautious, use a lower gear and tap your breaks.

For the ones who choose to stay home, good for you. At least you are aware of your capabilities.

For me, it’s not the weather that makes me so nervous. It’s the other drivers. You know who you are. I saw many drivers on the news stranded in a ditch.

I am glad that the some school districts are aware of you, too. The kids need another day of not being educated.

How do all the snow junkies make it to the mountain to enjoy the powder? Are they an elite breed of drivers? Born to snow? Hmmm, how unusual.

There is a lot of snow and ice up there. I don’t see the television news giving us a weather update every minute about the mountain snow.

We go there for that very reason, to take a drive in the snow and maybe hit the slopes the next storm that heads our way.

Relax, take a deep breath, and trust your instincts. Yes, it is that simple.

I would like to continue with my daily routine, without the worry of being dragged into a ditch by an incompetent soul.

It’s harsh but true.