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December 15, 2005
Snow day
If there's one thing that drives me bonkers about living in Chicago, it's that you never, ever get snow days. Back in the boondocks of Ohio, almost any snow guaranteed you a day off school. But in Chicago, there could be two feet of snow and they'd expect your ass there at the appointed time. It's really quite frustrating.
I don't know how much it snowed in Lancaster yesterday, but a bunch of the schools are closed or on delays. One of my favorite childhood memories was when I would wake up in the morning after a snowfall and switch on the radio or TV to look at the school closings. As the announcer read through the alphabetical listing, my anticipation would increase until he got to the L's. Then, when Lancaster City Schools would be officially closed for snow, I would let out a whoop... and go promptly back to sleep. But not in Chicago. No, not here. It's a shame. They're just too good with the plowing. City of Broad Shoulders and all that. An impromptu snow day is a gift, a time for relaxation, staying in the house and eating warm soup. Maybe going outside for a sled ride. But it's something every kid should get to experience in his life.
One year, it was so cold in Lancaster they closed the schools for TWO straight weeks. We missed ten days of school. Nothing. No learnin' whatsoever. Because it was COLD. But they got us back: they took away spring break. D'Oh.
Posted by oz115 at December 15, 2005 12:46 PM
Comments
I agree. As a kid growing up we got robbed of the joy of snow-days often. I can only remember two or three times (in my 10 years in the Naperville schools) that school was cancelled at all. Only one that I remember was actually due to snow. The others were due to extreme cold.
The key is that we need it to snow like a mofo at like 2am. Nobody will be awake to realize it and by the time they do, it'll be rush hour and the plows won't be able to clear the streets.
Supposedly, the great snow storm of 1978 shut down the entire city, even the highways were unplowed and closed! (yeah, my impending birth brought the city to it's knees baby!) Why can't we get snow like that anymore?
Posted by: Gentile at December 19, 2005 02:15 PM