Blizzards and Life - Clearing the Side Streets of Snow

I've lost four of the five pounds gained from our "comfort food" binge on the night and following day of the "Great Blizzard of 2018". Looking at the Master List, I'm rather surprised by how many of these massive snowfalls I've lived through. Our storm of a few days ago ranked in at number 12 with 15.8 inches. Ouch! 

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, here are the top 20 (actually 21 because of a tie) record snowfalls: I've been here for all but six. Maybe I should move! 

Top 20 Snowfalls for Twin Cities

1 - 28.4 inches: 1991 October 31 - November 3 (Halloween Blizzard)

2 - 21.1 inches: 1985 November 29 - December 1

3 -20.0 inches: 1982 January 22 - 23

4 -17.4 inches: 1982 January 20 - 21

5 -17.1 inches: 2010 December 10 - 11

6 -16.8 inches: 1940 November 11 - 12  (Armistice Day)

7 -16.7 inches: 1985 March 3 - 4

7 - 16.7 inches: 1940 March 11 - 14 (tie)

9 -16.5 inches: 1982 December 27 - 28

10 - 16.0 inches: 1917 January 20 - 21

10 - 16.0 inches: 1999 March 8 - 9 (tie)

12 - 15.8 inches: 2018 April 13-16

13 - 14.7 inches: 1985 March 31

14 - 14.3 inches: 1991 November 29 - 30

15 - 14.1 inches: 1952 March 22 -23

15 - 14.1 inches: 1983 November 27 - December 1 (tie)

17 - 13.8 inches: 2011 February 20-21

18 - 13.6 inches: 1966 March 22-23

18   13.6 inches: 1983 April 14 (tie)

20 - 13.1 inches: 1983 December 13-15

21 - 13.0 inches: 1907 April 27-28

The Cities look a lot different than three days ago. Where the plows concentrated is back to bare asphalt. The side streets, depending on which town or suburb you are moving through, are quite a bit more like going over icy railroad tracks. Very bumpy. We're supposed to be at 50 F by Sunday, though, so the melt will be awesome. 

I'm looking forward to the great meltdown, as long as we don't
flood again. It's a balancing act between liquid water and
frozen ground and we've had problems in the past. 

I realize we sent this storm eastward, so my apologies to my friends in the Eastern US who were looking forward to flowers and warmer weather. I think today's possible snow will be quite minor, so if you get that storm too, maybe it'll actually pass you by. 

Grief or other problems that life throws at us can seem
insurmountable at times. The only cure is time itself, but
it does get better. The road can be a hard one to walk, though. 

I'm always amazed by how quickly things can return to "normal". I think that happens in those emotional snowstorms that life throws at you too. It's hard to weather the white outs and the treacherous roads, but eventually those roads are plowed and the skies are blue once more and you look back at the past few months or the past year and are amazed that life has progressed and that you're still participating in it. That's when you start looking ahead more than behind and once more create your own unique footprints on life's pathways. 

Have a wonderful Wednesday. I'm hoping to get some shopping done - there are some things that we seriously need, and it's grocery and laundry day. I'll be back tomorrow, at least ... that's the plan.