Let’s face it, we’re all pretty much sick of winter. Sure, the kids may have enjoyed some of the snow, but even most of them were chased indoors by the bitter cold earlier this winter.
But we’ve had our fill of snow. Our driveways are bordered by heaps and piles of the white stuff. Our backyards are all but ignored as they lay buried under a very thick blanket of snow.
Finally, we’re getting seasonal and slightly-above-seasonal weather this week. It’s about time. We’ve been chilled since early January.
Most of us consider “polar vortex” a four-letter word.
So what do we have to look forward to now? Well, on the good side is the fact that all this snow has to go somewhere – the Great Lakes. Remember how low our lakes have been for years? This snow pack could change all that when it melts. That means potential for a stellar boating season.
But in the meantime, it also means the potential for flooding – from basements due to failed and overworked sump pumps, to our rivers and streams when all this snow does start to melt.
There is thick ice on the Thames and Sydenham Rivers. A quick melt could lead to an ice jam along one or both rivers. That would lead to flooding.
I hate to say it, but we need a nice, gentle melt, meaning a slow conversion to spring.
Of course, that’s not the way Mother Nature works around southwestern Ontario. No, she likes helping out by adding rain to the winter mix.
Then again, it’s been an unusually cold and snowy winter for us. Maybe she’ll keep things cooler than typical for Chatham-Kent and we’ll avoid serious flooding.
Maybe.
It’s not easy walking out there
Speaking of the snow, it wasn’t exactly fun trudging around in it last week helping my daughter with her paper route. She had a lot on her plate with extracurricular activities, so my wife and I helped deliver her Chatham Voice route.
We live in a subdivision that doesn’t have sidewalks. And the side of the roads was a mix of ice, slush and loose snow. Whenever possible, I’d walk out into the middle of the road to find solid ground.
Can’t blame the plow drivers. It’s just been that kind of winter. We live on a street that doesn’t merit ranking high up on the plow priority list.
It’s been hard for homeowners to keep up with all the snow this year. I am used to having our brick driveway clear of snow. That just hasn’t happened.
It’s the same at most other homes in our area. But it makes for tricky walking up to mailboxes.
I managed to remain upright as I finished my portion of the paper route, and don’t think I scared any of the neighbours (I’m not as cute as my daughter). I then hopped in the truck to make sure my wife and daughter had enough papers, and picked them up as they finished their sections.
The reward for slogging through the snow? A big hug and thank you from our girl. That’s fine payment in my books.
Kudos to the Cyclones
The Chatham-Kent Minor Atom AAA Cyclones deserve accolades for a very classy move recently. The squad took on Windsor Feb. 9. Prior to the game, the Cyclones taped their sticks green and both teams shared a moment of silence.
The effort was to honour Kevin Siddall, a 14-year-old Windsor player who passed away just days earlier after a six-month battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Seeing Red
We had the good fortune of attending the Simply Red event Feb. 14 at the Chatham Armoury.
The interior of the Armoury is a great spot for events such as Simply Red, or a large wedding. It’s spacious, and the antique furniture, including the bar, is a treat just to look at.
As for the Simply Red event, we were treated to surf ’n’ turf (I gave my wife my lobster tail and she let me have most of her steak), and the great sounds of guitarist Michael Schatte and his three-piece band.
It was a great way to spend Valentine’s Day.
My wife even won a silent auction item that night.
Everyone present watched a touching and informative video of Chatham-Kent Police Service Chaplain Michael Koppes and Const. John Hicks. Koppes was on a ride-along with Hicks in 2012 when Hicks started behaving erratically. Koppes recognized the signs of a stroke and got Hicks to the hospital.
That likely saved Hicks’ life.
The story really sent home the message that a stroke can happen to anyone, regardless of apparent good health.
