It’s mid-November, and we had our first dusting of snow last night, here in SE Pennsylvania. It didn’t amount to anything, although it did blanket the grassy areas and covered the last leaves of autumn that still hang on some of the trees. Too soon? If you ask most people, my guess is the answer would, unquestionably, be “Of Course!”

We all remember the scene from my favorite holiday movie, A Christmas Story. You know the one I’m referring to. The famous roadside clip when Ralphie loses the lug nuts as he helps his old man change a tire, then drops “…the big one, the queen mother of all dirty words!”  No, it wasn’t S-N-O-W, but where I live in today’s world, it certainly could be! Snow. That beautiful, soft frozen form of precipitation that most people either love, or hate. With the white, fluffy stuff there doesn’t seem to be any “middle ground.” You either enjoy seeing it as part of the changing of the seasons, or you loathe the mere mention of the word, and cringe every time a weather forecast includes it.

In my early years, it seemed like we always had some snow by the middle of November, always had a white Christmas, and continually had snow on the ground until March, sometimes even into April. As kids growing up in northern Pennsylvania we looked forward to snow. No, we actually craved it! I know it was a different time and we didn’t have much of the technology (that keeps us inside) and other safety concerns that we do today, but snow was fun and snow was magical. We took the good with the little bit of “bad.” Snowfalls brought excitement and smiles, snowball battles, snow forts and snow angels, and of course the famous “snow days.” As I remember, no one really got angry or depressed about snow. It was just snow! When conditions are right, it just falls when and where it wants to. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t target accumulating more on my driveway, or route to work, than it does other people’s areas. No, unlike my dad, we did not have to walk 2-3 miles every day in two feet of snow, uphill (both ways) for four months a year. Maybe our bus drivers with their heavy duty chains were better drivers, who knows, but more likely school districts were not as fearful about all the legal concerns they have today.

Things have changed in the past couple decades, though. Science has proven that climate change is real. This alteration to our environment has brought us milder winters that’s included warmer temps and less snowfall. Yes, it’s true, the real winter did appear once again early in 2014, with frequent snowfalls and the thermometer not rising much above freezing for the months of January-March. But, this was out of the “normal pattern” of warmer winters we’ve grown accustomed to in the past 10 years.

Contrary of how we feel about snow, it’s a very important part of Earth’s climate, and, as we’ve heard too often, is vulnerable to global warming. Many cultures, and wildlife, rely on snow and ice as part of their way of life, and their sustainability. In addition, millions of humans (knowingly or unknowingly) depend on the water that runs off from snow and glaciers. This snowmelt fills rivers and reservoirs that support drinking water supplies, industries such as agriculture, hydroelectric power and recreation, and provides the components for a healthy ecosystem.

Snow happens. I like that. I live in an area that is blessed with the season of winter, including snow, and I hope it continues. I’m going to continue to say the dreaded four letter word. I’ll openly speak it to my friends, family and co-workers, and whisper a little cheer when I hear it in the forecast, and I dare you to try and make me eat a bar of Lifebuoy soap for saying it! Cheers Ralphie!