Results: The Groundhog Said Six More Weeks of Winter

Around here, "hold my beer" is code for "watch me do something incredibly stupid/risky/I haven't thought this out but what the heck/Hang on! I'm gonna go big." Have you ever been in a situation where this phrase would have come in handy?

Memphis and Mother Nature went big- for us, anyway. (And bless 'em, Texas went even bigger. When we aren't whining about our own burst pipes and boil water advisory, I promise we are keeping you in our hearts, Texas.) Anyway. No matter how you look at it, Southerners just aren't made for this kind of weather. Strings of 100 degree days with 90% humidity? We're good. A week of sub zero temps and 10 plus inches of snow and ice? Not so much. Boots, hats, scarves, and coats are fashion statements, not winter preparedness. How do you view boots and hats etc.?

The only winter footwear in my house is a pair of Ughs that barely escaped the Great Quarantine Closet Purge of March 2020. A gift from my dad when at Osh Kosh for the 1986 EAA Air Show, it seemed prudent to hold on to them until we could go shopping for something from this century. Are you impressed with my foresight?

The words "possible flurries" can strip Memphis store shelves faster and more fully than rumors of a countywide pandemic lockdown. A friend who shall remain nameless told me that her trip to Walmart during the breather between the ice event and the snow was like a pre-covid Black Friday and "kinda fun." I think Amy is nuts, don't you?

Having been born and raised in Ohio, I have some experience with winter weather driving. This does not make me safe on the roads here. There are numerous transplants to Memphis who've learned the hard way that they are not fighting winter road conditions but are up against locals who have no clue what they are doing. So, I take Dad's advice, leave it to the amateurs, curl up on the couch with the dog, and read. Because, winter preparedness isn't just about milk and bread and winter clothing. It is also about making sure all devices are at full charge and you have at least two new books downloaded and ready to go. Right?