Around here people don’t talk too much about it . . . especially this year. But it is there lurking in the background just biding its time to make a grand entrance into the conversation. In a typical year it wouldn’t even be an issue. The problem is that this hasn’t been a “typical” year. Far from it and because of that everyone has been tiptoeing around saying it . . . we’ve got a bad case of “snow envy”.
Two-thirds of the way through January and we have had an irregular winter—warmer than usual temperatures and a lack of snow. No one has hardly had to shovel this year as there has been no snow to shovel. It has been downright balmy and pleasant to the point that plants and trees are confused . . . plants that should be dormant are sprouting and growing and some trees are even budding . . . they think its springtime. I haven’t even put away my shorts from the summer because I am still working on that tan. If this keeps up I’ll need to mow my grass before the start of February.
And no one is saying anything . . . well, almost no one. Farmers and ranchers are always moaning and groaning about the weather. Can’t please that group of people when it comes to the weather. It is either “too much” or “not enough”. They are never satisfied. If they got the “perfect” weather, I hope that everyone is prepared for the Second Coming because it is going to be a miraculous event. This year even the farmers and ranchers have a major case of “snow envy”.
Since the political leaders in charge deny it, we can’t blame it on climate change. But something is up creating this situation. The weather has shifted and gone east. The weather being experienced in the east as a historic catastrophe is our typical Montana weather. All that snow and cold those Easterners are experiencing is our normal. In our balmy environment we sit back in envy witnessing perfectly good winter weather pound the east knowing that they have little to no appreciation of the gift they are receiving. What was once ours is now theirs. It is making us jealous and filled with “snow envy”.
The normal expectation around here is that there is snow and lots of it by now. Instead, we have the false spring. No snow. No ice. No shoveling. No complaining (at least not out loud). Here in Montana snow is important to our environmental health and our image. The mountain snowpack dictates our snowmelt which flows into our rivers and streams to keep everything green . . . and fireproofed. Without it we have problems, especially with wildfires. At the rate we are going it is beginning to look like we are going to have a long fire season. Lots of fire and smoke.
Normally I wouldn’t have “snow envy”. I am not a “snow worshipper”. I appreciate the snow. I understand its importance and role in the bigger picture of things, especially in Montana. Snow is important. A necessary evil. Remember, snow is a four-letter word. That being said, I want people to understand that like everyone else I get tired of snow. Tired of shoveling it. Tired of scraping it off my car. Tired of piling it up. After one or two good snows, like everyone else, I have had enough. Like everyone else at that point I too curse the snow. Outside of one good shoveling so far this year I haven’t had the opportunity to pull out my lament of snow profane snow cursing.
I miss the snow.
I am envious of those who live east of Montana who have been receiving what was rightfully ours. Send it back. We have plenty of room for it. We can accommodate it. Appreciate it. Handle it. We are used to it. We miss our snow.
There . . . I have said it out loud. Someone had to say it . . . someone had to get the ball rolling. Saying it out loud should get us some snow (knock on the wooden snow shovel handle). May the words I have spoken magically float to the heavens imploring Mother Nature to get back to business as usual . . . dump the snow on us! Now that it has been spoken . . . acknowledged, may it come to be. We are ready to pay the price. “Snow envy” does not look good on us. Let it snow!!!
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