Southern Snow Day:
All week long I was hoping for a snow day. The meteorologists were first predicting 2-4" of snow and even put us under a winter weather watch, but by Wednesday it had been down-graded to 1-3" of snow and a winter weather advisory. Even though we just got back for Christmas break, I wanted one more day to catch up on sleep and tackle the mess in our dining room/office. Knowing that I had to work this weekend, I eagerly watched as the school closings came in Wednesday night. Thursday morning, I crawled out of bed and over to the window, hoping to find the ground covered in white. DANG! No snow. I humored myself anyway and checked the office line...no closing announcement. Disappointed, I got ready for the day...jealous of all the kids (and their teachers) at home in their beds!
I was able to leave work about an hour early on Thursday since road conditions were deteriorating which was a nice bonus, but now I was wishing for a snow day on Friday...or at least a late start. Once again I eagerly watched as the school closings came in Thursday night. Friday morning I checked the office line hoping to hear some good news...robbed again! I called back a few more times just to make sure and off to work I went. :)
For all you Northern folks - they cancel school down here whenever there is a "credible" forecast of snow or ice. If one road in the county/district is icy, the entire county/district shuts down. If they buses can't run their routes...no school. Since predicting the weather is more of an art and an exact science, the kids often have fake snow days. The snow finally came on Thursday mid-morning, but if northern schools shut down for the same weather, their kids would never be in class. In defense of the South, they don't have enough equipment to properly maintain all the roads continuously. And even though I can tough it out, I relish my Southern snow days when I can take advantage of them. :)
Northern Snow Day:
As a kid I remember waking up to the radio and listening closely as they announced the school districts that were closed. In North Dakota they rarely announced them the night before. Every school district around us would close, but Fargo Public Schools would stay open! Because most of us lived in the city, we would have to go to school while neighboring towns enjoyed a day off. I remember disliking our school superintendent because of it.
I remember one day in 8th or 9th grade every school district up and down the Red River valley (the river that separates ND & SD from MN) was closed, except FARGO. Wind chills were at or near -50 F and there was plenty of BS (blowing snow). I had to get up and catch the early bus. On very windy or cold days I usually stood in the garage until I saw the bus coming down the street and then I would run across the street and down to the end of the block to the bus stop. Then I had to ride the bus for 30 minutes. If you've ever been on a school bus you know they're not very warm...now add in a -50 F wind chill...and since I was in Jr. high, I'm sure I wasn't dress appropriately as I had to maintain some level of "coolness." When we arrived at the school we went to wait in the cafeteria until it was time for class to begin. A couple teachers came walking though singing the marching chant "I Don't Know What You've Been Told" re-written about how tough we were for coming to school in a blizzard. A short while later (before classes began) an announcement was made that school had been canceled for the day...the buses would be turning around and coming back to get us and bring us home! I was glad to be heading back home, but not happy that I had to get up in the first place!
For all you Southern folks: On days when we actually got a snow day, I spent it in my PJ's at home. If it was bad enough not to go to school, you definitely didn't want to be outside. Sledding, snow ball fights, fort building...those would have to wait until the temps were back up into the teen and twenties.
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