Along with many others in the Washington region, I rejoiced at the coming snow. And I still rejoice in seeing the dazzling whiteness that lays strewn over the concrete jungle of my hometown. Some people may be upset at the fact that their feet get cold and wet, but I am appreciating it. Finally, some snow before Christmas! I just hope this year won't be the last of these big blizzards that hit the region every 6 years or so.
It has been of little note in this country that North America is the only continent that has been colder than usual. All across the world, heat waves, drought, and rising waters have continued apace with the global warming science; yet in N. America, whose opinion on that subject is possibly the most influential, we have had a colder year than previous. According to the UN's meteorological agency, this decade has been the hottest ever recorded. If Americans were not so insular, mayhap they would figure out that, even though it wasn't very hot this year in the US, it was hot everywhere else. And maybe they could remember, like I do, wearing T-shirts in January many times this past decade. And then maybe they could figure out it is because of a trend called*gasp* GLOBAL WARMING! But wishing that Americans could have a broader outlook and any sort of memory is like asking Congress to pass a simple, fair, and clear bill. Le sigh.
But, back to what I was getting at with the snow over the concrete jungle. I have lived in DC for more than 2 decades and never before has it snowed more than an inch before Christmas. Now, the snow gods have donated about 24 inches - of course, after I graduated from school (that means I still have to get up in the morning!). Now I was wondering, since I am a wanna-be global warming exterminator, what if this unusual amount of snow before Christmas is due to global warming (since it's snow, how about global climate change?)?? Just a thought. I mean, you know, it could be possible...right?
There is evidence of previous major snowfalls in December...I think 1932 was the last year we had one. That's once every 77 years! So, I'm not going to complain about this massive snowfall like some people, and I'm certainly going to be joining in some major snowball fights (without a gun...). I'll make some snow angels, go sledding, eat some snow and pretend like I'm a polar bear or Siberian tiger in the snowy wastelands of the North. Because, who knows? We might not get snow like this in December ever again. Seventy-seven years from now, in 2086, the global temperature will probably be at least 1 degree celcius higher, making it pretty hard to get snow in Phoenix-like temperatures in Maryland and DC. So, I'm going to appreciate this rarity and go play in the snow...after I get over this nasty flu.
