Minnesotans Clear Away after Snowstorm, Expect Bitter Cold

[MineralMan]

Here in the Twin Cities, I went out at 8AM to deal with the 6" of snow that fell overnight. I was the first in the neighborhood out, but that changed quickly. Before long all of the neighbors were out with their snow shovels and snowblowers, clearing away. Early, because the temperature is going to drop quickly, and a strong wind is going to blow from the deep cold front that will pass over the area, bringing us -20 degree cold tonight, along with those winds.

In my neighborhood, everyone who is able helps those who are not as able to clear their snow, so people with snowblowers are clearing the sidewalks and the driveways and shoveling the walkways of those who are too old or just can't do the job. I blew off the city sidewalks for two of my neighbors and cleared the driveway of the neighbor next door, since we share a double driveway and she is somewhat disabled. Everyone waves at everyone as we work on this necessary job.

In another couple of hours the whole block's sidewalks and driveways will be completely cleared. Other blocks in this blue-collar neighborhood do the same thing, pretty much. The city snowplows are already out and by tomorrow sometime, every street in the city will have been plowed and people will go about their normal business.

This wasn't a horrible winter storm. We've had 18" in 24 hours other times. Then, it took a little longer for everyone to get the snow moved out of the way, but it still worked the same way.

My point in all of this is that neighborhoods, working together, can deal with snow and other such nonsense, as long as everyone does what they can to help folks who aren't able to do it for themselves. I'm 71 now. Eventually, I'll be one of those who can't handle the job any longer. Not yet. Not for a while. Even old farts like me can walk behind a snowblower in a parka and clear snow. I can still shovel my walks, but I do that slowly, and take short breaks to watch my younger neighbors shoveling away as fast as they can.

Now, if we could just get the whole country to do the same for the national neighborhood in a broad range of areas of need. If those who can would help those who can't, and those who have much would willingly help those who have little, many of our problems would disappear. Would that it were so. More's the pity that it is not so.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Unfortunately it's impossible to transfer that sense of "neighborliness"

to an entire country. It's easy, and more or less expected, to help neighbors shovel the snow off their walk or dig their car out - although even in an otherwise friendly neighborhood there will always be some who won't help (my entitled yuppie next-door neighbor, for example, who'd leave me lying face down in a snowbank rather than lift a finger to help; but don't get me started about him). Usually, though, people don't hesitate to help their neighbors - because those neighbors are part of their social group, tribe, whatever you want to call it. They are people you might see every day; in any event they are "good" or trusted or worthy of help because they are your neighbors. With respect to those who are not our neighbors, though, it's way too easy to think of them as "the other" - or not think of them at all. Sure, we'll send a few bucks to the Red Cross to help people far away who've been affected by a natural disaster. But comments on DU since the election make it evident that people often do not feel "neighborly" toward people in other communities. There's been a lot of outright hate expressed for people who voted for Trump, mainly those who live in rural areas. We don't want to help them because they were "too stupid" to realize what they were voting for. And at least some Trump voters were motivated by racism and xenophobia - they might love their proximate neighbors but not their national neighbors, and they don't want to help those people.

We're happy to shovel snow for the people on our block but we won't pay an extra dime in taxes to provide school lunches for the children of those people. I have no idea what the remedy for this situation is. Maybe there is none. Maybe angry tribalism is the basic human condition. I sure hope not, but Trump has turned over a rock and that's what seems to be under it.

[MineralMan]

2. You're right of course, and that's what's sad.

That's why I said "More's the pity." For most of us, it's hard to think beyond what's familiar. In most neighborhoods, including my own, I don't even know the names of people who don't live next door or across the street. I see them. I say hello to them when my wife and I walk our dogs, but I don't really know them, or much about them.

But, they live nearby. When an ambulance shows up at a neighbor's house, I'm concerned, even if I don't know that neighbor by name. As in most neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St. Paul, mine is very diverse, with about half of my neighbors being second generation Hmong people. There are a few other ethnic minorities also represented. I like my Hmong neighbors, but they're not all that inclusive socially. That's OK, though. But...they're like everyone else. They're out helping their neighbors when there is a need.

So, we identify with those who live near us, to a greater degree than those who live a bit farther away. And for all those faceless people who we never see and who may live many hundreds of miles away, our concern is diminished for day-to-day problems.

But, the thing about being a Democrat or a progressive is that we have in common a concern for all of those people, including the ones we will never encounter or meet. We're willing to help them through taxation and other methods, and we rely on the government to administer those programs. That's why we're progressives or Democrats.

So, you're right. Neighbors help neighbors. But we're all neighbors, really. We forget that often, though. We shouldn't, but we do.

[sarcasmo]

3. Still snowing here on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin.

[MineralMan]

4. Yup, it's moving eastward.

Next week, the east coast is going to get slammed. Aside from the -20 cold tonight, this wasn't so bad, and the snow is cleared now. We'll just bundle up and stay home until the roads are plowed. Nowhere in particular to go anyhow.

The NBC Morning News this morning had a brief blurb about the Twin Cities, but we are generally ignored. When this hits the Northeastern states on Monday, though, there will be lots of coverage of people digging out and all of the traffic accidents and snarls.

People who live in the cold winter states generally cope pretty well with this, unless there are huge power outages or something. Then, it becomes a true emergency. But, the homeless shelters are full here and there will be many people in car accidents due to the slippery roads. The auto body shops do a huge business this time of year.

For some people, the snow plowing policies of cities cause real problems. People who must park on city streets have to pay careful attention to where they can and can't park during "snow emergencies." Those who aren't paying attention get their cars towed, and it costs an average of about $250 to get your car back from the impound lot. For some people, that money doesn't exist. As far as I know, there's no fund to help those people with that problem, and it can be disastrous for some.

On the other hand, there are also people who pay no attention whatsoever to snow plowing schedules and don't even try to follow the parking rules. They're sort of funny when they get interviewed at the impound lot by the local TV station. "What snow emergency? I didn't hear about any snow emergency!" They don't read the newspaper, watch local news, or listen to radio stations that announce it every 5 minutes. They didn't sign up for the texts or emails the cities send out to announce them. In most cities, they're even automatically declared whenever more than, say, 3" of snow falls. But, those people are outraged that their Beemer got towed and the tow driver scratched their bumper. That's amusing to a certain degree.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. It seems like every year some people have to re-learn how to drive in snow.

It isn't that hard. Take it easy. Drive slower than the posted speed limit; anticipate slippery spots at intersections and slow down before you get there; don't try to blast through big ridges left by the snow plows; if you have antilock brakes don't pump them but use steady pressure; if you start to skid turn into the direction of the skid and not away from it. When it's very cold, be aware that black ice can form on roads. And if you don't have to go anywhere, don't until the plows have been through and the streets sanded.

I'm not going anywhere today.

[MineralMan]

10. I'm also not driving anywhere today.

When roads are icy, I start stopping before I start. Or, at least, that's what I tell people. I also drive very slowly and carefully, much to the annoyance of people who thing speed limit signs designate the minimum speed you must drive, regardless of road conditions.

A lot of drivers pay zero attention to icy winter conditions. That's why there are so many people "in the ditch" every day during rush hour. Thank goodness I work at home and don't have a commute. I worry about all the other drivers. They're the real hazard.

[Hekate]

5. I like your neighborhood

[pansypoo53219]

6. need to find my extra good wool sweaters. layer time.

[MineralMan]

8. Yes, indeed.

And insulated pants and a parka rated for -50 degrees. Insulated waterproof boots, a knitted face mask and a hat with fuzzy ear flaps, plus two pairs of excellent winter gloves you can switch when you're snowblowing and the first pair gets cold.

I've only lived here for 12 years, but I've learned. I have three different parkas for different temperatures. Each has a pair of gloves in the pockets that is suited for the weather the parka is for. I'm pretty much ready for anything.

On the other hand, my wife had two bags of trash ready to go outside to the wheelie bin this morning. I took them out with only my t-shirt on at -5 degrees. It's OK if you'll be right back inside. "Bracing," my late father-in-law used to call it.

Ahh, Minnesota winters....

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. I just refilled the bird feeders clad in my bathrobe and slippers.

No hat, gloves, boots, any of that stuff. But then, I was born in the midwest. We can take it. We like to say that the winter weather keeps out the riffraff.

[MineralMan]

15. Yah, sure, but wait until that time you pull the door

shut and realize you've locked yourself out. That actually happened to me once, here. I accidentally left my keys on a table and went out to go somewhere. Locked the door and pulled it shut. Then, of course, when I reached into my pocket for the keys...

Fortunately, one of my neighbors has a house key for our house and she was home. It was cold out there.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. Ha! Fortunately my doors don't work that way -

they're all double deadbolts. I could see me doing something like that, though; in fact, once I locked myself out of my car with the engine running, in the dead of winter, with my house keys also in the car. This was before the days of cell phones (but that would have been in the car also), so I had to go to a neighbor's house to call a locksmith.

[philosslayer]

9. Sounds like there are few if any Trump supporters in your neighborhood

[MineralMan]

11. Yah, probably not. My precinct went over 60% for Hillary.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Got you beat. Mine went 93%.

Minneapolis 8-6, aka the People's Republic of Minneapolis. We're such pinkos that Kucinich took our precinct last time he ran.

[MineralMan]

14. Outstanding!

You live in a rare place.

[onethatcares]

16. I don't know who said it first but

"Out of many, One" is on our dollar bills

That's the way it should be. Everyone looking out for their neighbors