Huron Expositor, 2007-12-19, Page 4Page 4 December 19, 2007 • The Huron Expositor
anamio
Haveasafe and
merry Christmas
Opinion
Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK IWO
With Huron County kids already enjoying several
snow days, it's very likely that predictions for a
white Christmas will be true this year.
Environment Canada has been predicting the
coldest winter in 15 years and above normal
amounts of precipitation. Sunday's storm was a
good taste of both.
As we head out on the roads to celebrate the holi-
day season with family and friends, we need to
keep in mind that we're facing an old-fashioned
Canadian winter this year.
With the winter weather, we need to remember
caution and patience as our sidewalks and road-
ways become ever -congested with snow, slush and
traffic.
During the holidays, it's easy to find ourselves in
a rush, and sometimes the distractions we create
with all of the extras on our calendars become an:
issue of traction when we slide past the stop sign.
The roads are slippery this time of year and it
only takes a blink of an eye for an accident to occur.
Nightly newscasts keep us up-to-date as to which
poor soul lost control of his or her vehicle and went
off the road. Cars begin to line the ditches of our
highways and side roads as conditions worsen.
Most of these winter accidents are preventable
simply by taking more time. And, of course, as the
more sage among us intone, if the roads are too
slippery for the school buses, chances are other
motorists should avoid them, too, especially conces-
sion roads where plows are not as plentiful.
True, it's hard to find time in the middle of a
mad, holiday rush, but by leaving earlier and
reducing speeds, it could mean the difference
between getting to your destination on time and
sliding through a red light into oncoming traffic.
Taking it slower in town protects not just you and
your vehicle, but pedestrians also. And avoiding an
accident also means avoiding other expensive con-
sequences like higher insurance premiums and
hefty repair bills.
Of course, another safety tip to remember is to
stay off the roads altogether if you've planning to
indulge in any holiday spirits, beer or wine. Alcohol
is only going to turn already tricky winter driving
into a possibly deadly exercise.
Keep your Christmas merry b staying safe on
the roads - or by staying home when the winter
winds howl.
Susan Hundertmark
SnowtQrm
gives me.Christmas
a weekbefore the big event•
Maybe it was the
Christmas carol playing on the
radio following the weather
report, but I finally let myself
exhale - and with my breath
went all my expectations for
the day as a wintry gust of
snow swirled past the window.
Hey, I was warm, I was
surrounded by my family, I had food in the
house - instead of running off to join the
crazed crowds at the city malls, I could actu-
ally enjoy the downtime that only a snow day
with road closures can provide.
Living in town a 10 -minute walk from
work, I rarely get to luxuriate in a weekday
snow day. But, a Sunday snow day was some-
thing to be appreciated.
After lounging most of the morning in paja-
mas, we got outside together to shovel snow.
Much of the rest of the day was spent listen-
ing to music, making candy, eating and
watching Christmas shows on TV - almost a
Christmas Day -type of day a week before the
big event.
It was the kind of slowed -down, no -dead-
lines kind of day I'd like to enjoy more often.
It's a little. bit sad that it takes a "crippling
storm" for us to slow down our frantic pace
and enjoy guiltfree the kind of rest and relax-
ation we all need on a regular basis.
As for me, I'm feeling a new appreciation
for the benefits living in the snowbelt can
provide.
While I'm no fan of global
warming, I must admit I was
longing for a little bit of it
when the record snowfall came
blowing in over the weekend.
With my Christmas shopping
far from complete, I was hop-
ing a run into London
Saturday night would finish
up what I haven't been able to find locally.
Dinner and a movie to celebrate a family
birthday were also on the calendar.
So, when those excitable weather people
starting chirping that the sky would be
falling sometime on Saturday and in through
Sunday, I was not impressed.
Yes, I know they're trying to be helpful and
to keep us safely off of dangerous roads. But,
they do seem to derive a certain amount of
glee whenever severe weather approaches.
As the day progressed and the storm warn-
ings grew more and more dire, I was con-
vinced to postpone the trip but not without a
fair amount of frustration.
After predicting a crippling winter storm
all day Saturday, the weather people were
still bracing for it on the 11 p.m. news and I
was kicking myself for not taking the risk.
So, when I awoke to kneedeep snow
Sunday, I was a little moody to say the least.
Staring out the window attempting to melt
the snow with my heated determination, I let
myself fret about the limited opportunities
left to me to finish my list.
Susan
Hundertmark
Ron & Dave
YIPPEEEI IT'S
CHRISTMAS
MORNING!
Y' know Dave...it's sad that
when we grow up we won't
be able to experience this
child -like joy of
Christmas morning.
Yeah, its too
bad that
grown-ups
have to be so
mature.
b David Lace
i
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