Country Roads

This week there seems to be three main subjects being considered. They are the results of the Iowa Caucus, who will the Chiefs be playing in the next division game, and snow...when will it quit, when will school be held again, and if the country roads will ever get fully open.

Snow is one of the topics perhaps because we haven’t seen this much snow on the ground in a few years. But for many, being home bound in the last three or four days is stressful. We are ready for a break in the weather. We have seen lots of snowy pictures and perhaps have taken a few of our own. Pictures include trains that are having a hard time getting through, drifts so high it makes it hard to open the outside doors, drifts that cover fences and allow the cattle to get out, and not to mention vehicle accidents.

Some people like snow and some do not. Most farmers are thankful for the moisture it is providing, but they don’t like the extra work it makes in caring for their livestock.

As I shared in this space last week, when I was a child, I looked on snow with excitement and had fun playing in it. Now that I am older, my opinion of snow has changed. Adding to this week’s weather problem is the record breaking cold temperatures.

Being a person of musical interest, I checked my memory of songs relating to snow. Most seem to make light of the snow. In fact most all of the songs referring to snow that I thought of are happy ones. There is the song “Snow” by Irving Berlin that was featured in the movie White Christmas and its lyrics go like this: “I wanna wash my hands, my face, my hair in snow. I long to clear a path and lift a spade of snow. Oh to see a great big man entirely made of snow. Where it’s snowing all winter through. That’s where I wanna be. Snowball throwing, that’s what I want to do. How I’m longing to ski. Snow, those glistening houses that seem to be built of snow, oh snow, to see a mountain covered with a quilt of snow.”

Then there is the song “Winter Wonderland” with happy lyrics; “Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland.”

I’m sure the farmers and ranchers aren’t feeling that way about the “winter wonderland” as they do their livestock chores. Do you remember the song “Frosty The Snowman?” Old Frosty was dancing around until the sun came out.

The song that we probably don’t wish to hear right now is “Let It Snow, Let It Snow.”

Other “snow” songs that may bring up a memory or two are “Snowbird,” “A Hazy Shade of Winter” and “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

Hopefully, we’ll get a break in this winter weather soon but remember it’s two months until the first day of spring. After a mild November and December, we shouldn’t complain about a few cold and snowy days in mid to late January. There may be more winter snow and cold weather headed our way but each day we are a day closer to spring.