As I look out my window, the snow is falling. Yes, it appears as though winter has arrived. As I see the snow, I am reminded of conversations I had with my parents about driving in the winter. It seemed to me that they always found a reason they needed to go to the store when the weather was miserable. When I would tell my father I did not think he should be driving in the snow, he would tell me that with his many years of driving in snowy weather, he had the experience to drive safely. However, what he was not thinking about was what might happen after he got to the store. Because very few stores have covered parking, it meant he would need to walk through the snow and ice in the parking lot to get into the store. What I tried to point out was that the walk through the parking lot could be more dangerous than the drive to the store. It only takes a split second to slip and fall, and with bones becoming more brittle as we age, falls often mean broken bones. To me it seemed foolish to risk going out in slippery conditions unless it was absolutely necessary. As I age I hope I can remember my own advice and do the following:
- Pay attention to the weather forecast. I know weather forecasters are not always right, but it is rare that we have a completely unexpected snow or ice storm. Many times we have an advance notice of several days. So when a storm is predicted, check and make sure you have the supplies you will need until after the storm.
- Keep supplies on hand just for weather emergencies. Then there will be no need to make a trip in bad weather. Of course since some items have expiration dates on them , it is wise to periodically check the expiration dates, use the expiring items, and replace them with new items.
With planning and proper preparation, we will be able to enjoy the beauty of the snow safely from the windows of our homes.