Milwaukee, WI

News of snow is depressing enough. News of snow day after day becomes grueling. Weather reporters gleefully predicting another winter like last year makes me start looking at other places to live. In the past 24 hours, news reporters have remarked on the similarities between last year’s early December snowstorms and this year. They have pondered whether another 100 inch winter lies ahead for us. And they have done all of this without the tiniest bit of remorse, upset or anguish.

I want anguish! I want remorse, regret, even an apology! I want the weathermen to feel bad that they are telling us that we are going to have to suffer through another winter like last year.

I don’t want some chuckling comment about getting my shoveling arm in shape, or stocking up on salt. If we’re talking about snow, I want the weather forecast to be delivered with funereal solemnity.

Is that too much to ask?

All joking aside, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched to believe that we may be in for another doozy of a winter this year. However, all sources seem to indicate that the City of Milwaukee will be adequately equipped to deal with it. Last year at this time plowing issues were abundant, but this year the reports on street plowing have been satisfactory. Whether the City can keep its salt supply in check remains to be seen, but Wisconsinites are not fast to forget bad winters. We were lulled into laxity by year after year of light winters. Last year’s wake-up call has many of us planning ahead and anticipating the snow much better this time around. Presumably our city leaders are doing the same.