Don't Feel Sorry for Seattle! The Kids Love and Need Snow!

The national news makes it appear as if the city of Seattle is in a crisis mode due to a few inches of soft snowfall.  As a native of the city, here is my somewhat different perspective:
 

by Jim Barton on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 1:40pm

     Many not native to the Pacific Northwest assume that at Seattle's northern latitude it has all the snow it can handle.   Not so!  A combination of the warm maritime currents from Japan, the warm chinook winds and mountain ranges that trap moisture west of the Cascades, squeezing every drop out of the clouds before they venture east gives the city a wet, but moderate climate for a city 180 miles from the Canadian border. 

     As kids, although every clear day of the year, we could gaze longingly at the majestic, snow-covered Mount Rainier, our constant prayers for snow days that would necessitate missing school fell on deaf ears.  The problem was that, in that climate, even when snow fell, it would seldom stick to the roadways.  If it ever did stick, we kids rejoiced, while our parents panicked, bought snow chains for their tires.  In one of the freak storms that hit while I was attending Kent-Meridian High School, I bought the chains and snow tires for my '59 VW bug.  I thought that meant I could go up and down the steep hills with abandon.  I lost control, slipped into a deep roadside snowdrift.  A farmer pulled me out with his tractor at no charge.

     After any heavy snowfall the first order of business is to make a snowman for the front yard.  You make the tightest snowball you can and start rolling it in the snow until it makes a huge ball.  That is the lower torso.  Then you make a slightly smaller ball that is placed on the top of the first one for the stomach and chest area.  Finally, a smaller ball yet is placed on top for the head.  A carrot works for the nose, usually dark rocks for the eyes and mouth.  The benefit of having a snowman is that even after the snow has melted from the yard, you may have a lingering presence for a few days until finally he disappears into the grassy soil.

     Please don't feel sorry for Seattle's kids.  They are having a ball!