  In Oklahoma, we’re pretty used to weather extremes. It’s not unusual to have a three inch rain pop up with consequential flooding or a tornado rip through 20 miles of farmland and homes. You’ve see the pictures of the ice storms that I’ve posted and the results of extraordinarily violent twisters. As I’ve pointed out, we’re a resilient group of people and many of us plan way ahead of time for all kinds of possibilities. The ability of our people to keep things running with “a piece of baling wire or twine” isn’t unique but keeps us ‘keepin’ on’. But even with our low-keyed responses to impending doom, it doesn’t stop our local weathermen from shooting epinephrine and revving their engines to morph into maniacal harbingers of catastrophe and certain death. Such was the case this past weekend as the top meteorologists at our three local stations went into overdrive and excitedly announced that the storm of all storms was going to bring the entire state to a screeching – er – sliding halt. Almost suppressing giggles of glee, they attempted a serious demeanor to express the certain destruction that was ahead, but it was obvious they considered this event to be what made life worth living and their jobs finally legitimate.  As soon as the blizzard hit on Monday night, the stations sounded their continual little warning tones throughout the evening and by Tuesday morning, all those in the tv weather rooms and on the roads, with cameras and microphones, were keeping a steady conversation that only needed a, “How bad is it?” “It’s sooooo bad that…..” joke. Embarrassed fools who attempted to travel in over a foot of blowing snow and ice and subsequently slid into 4 foot drifts, discovered microphones in their faces and the question, “So. What happened here? What is your name?” I loved one man’s answer, “My name really doesn’t matter now does it? And I slid into a snowdrift. Duh.” The reporter was kind enough not to remind the man that he was pretty stupid for trying to navigate the roads, except that the reporter was out there right beside him, having attempted to navigate the roads!  And so, winter is again in Okieland, however, this particular storm HAS outdone itself. Blizzards are not a common occurrence here, but MOST Oklahomans were ready for this one and are snug in their homes in front of their woodstoves, fireplaces or gas heaters, drinking hot chocolate, playing Rummy and cooking some darned good dishes. So far, no reports of hypothermia or other weather related deaths. The groceries have been shut down as have the government offices, but no worries because most were prepared. I guess we can thank the weathermen!  |
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