We're getting buried!

[Mike_Oettle]

As uncomfortable as the summer swelter is here in brightest Africa, I am so-o-o-o-o grateful that I don’t live in a country that sees snow at that intensity.
My thoughts are with you up there in lower Ontario.
Regards,
Mike

[Father Bill]

Well, for all of our grumbling, I think Canadians are (perhaps secretly for some) proud of our beautiful winters and of our ability to "weather the storms!"

[James Hood]

Condolences, Fr. Bill.

Yes, cheers fro those who kept the roads open and answered emergency situations.

In metro Chicago, this past two 2 weeks, it was so cold, schools were closed for 3 days...'cannot ever remember that happening for COLD!

[Father Bill]

Right now, all major streets in town are bare and dry again. We have a magnificent City Works department!

...and that means I can enjoy challenging my little MX5 a bit more.

[OC Richard]

I really feel for our dear Father and others who have to live in the cold. I truly can't imagine what you all go through each day.

The above is our reality here in Greater Los Angeles.

Wanna visit?

Aloha shirts, board shorts, and flip-flops are all that you need to pack, in the way of clothes. (Oh, and a kilt!)

[O'Callaghan]

I have cousins in Michigan. If it is snowing that hard across the border in Ontario, I am guessing they got a bit too. It snowed here in Maryland today, enough to shut the schools for the day, but nothing like that much.

[JohntheBiker]

As uncomfortable as the summer swelter is here in brightest Africa, I am so-o-o-o-o grateful that I don’t live in a country that sees snow at that intensity.
My thoughts are with you up there in lower Ontario.
Regards,
Mike

Mike,

Spent a good chunk of December in Cape Town (and environs) - absolutely perfect weather!

Clearly it was a lot colder when I got home. While I share Father Bill's pride in our beautiful winters, getting away from them, particularly to places like South Africa, has its benefits.

[OC Richard]

This thread made me think about how sad it is, in a way, that here we have no 'seasons'. Our weather now is exactly what it would be at the height of summer.

My kids are both in college now, aged 20 and 24, and neither has ever seen snow. Well, at a distance: when we get rain, and if it's cold enough at the higher elevations, our local mountains will be capped with snow. But here near the coast it never snows, and rarely gets down to freezing overnight. Every few years we might get a night or two cold enough to put frost on the grass and cars. That's it for our 'seasons'.

A palm tree pretty much looks like a palm tree, year round.

[Stitchwiz]

I lived near Philadelphia for 4 years attending school, and really missed the true winter season for a few of them.

One fall we had a hint to let us know what was to come - we had 2 feet of snow on the 14th of October! And no one knew what to do! The Canadian guys, including my brother, went to the hardware store, bought shovels and proceeded to make a fortune clearing snow! My brother said that that was the easiest money he made while he was at school. He had a long list of clients for the winter who appreciated his skill at moving snow efficiently - all those years of practice at home paid off. When he was younger, he used to grumble loudly when it was his turn to shovel the deck and the walks. I used to tease him about that when he bragged about how much he made. (Aren't kids crazy sometimes!)

That was the only winter that felt 'normal' to me. I really don't mind the snow, as long as I can hunker down and enjoy it!

[Father Bill]

Of course, up here, Canadians view this a bit differently than perhaps some others might.