In most of Southern Arizona, snow is a rarity and a delight. A few years ago, the main school district here had its first ever snow day–and no one in admin or the state knew how to handle it. They didn’t want any buses going over any bridges (ice! ZOMG!) but they didn’t want to cancel school because we don’t build snow days into the schedule here. It would have thrown EVERYTHING off. So they ended up having a four-hour delay, and by then no one was coming to school. I think we got about fifty kids total, out of eight hundred, who had shown up before the district decided what to do. They spent the morning playing in the snow.
Now that I own my home, I’m aware that hoping for snow (and obvi, the cold weather that comes with it) is a silly thing to do. Citrus trees like I have in my back yard do not love snow. The new trees that I had planted back in November aren’t ready for snow. Heck, the mature, huge palm trees in the front yard aren’t big fans either, I’m sure. The last struggling tomato plant of my garden, with about five green tomatoes still clinging on, is not going to do well in snow. (And, worse, the 29° predicted for tonight.)
But it’s so pretty. This morning driving to work, the Catalinas were white all the way to the foothills. The Rincons too, when I could see them beyond the clouds. The Santa Ritas, even the Tucson Mountains were pretty snow-covered! I’ve never seen them get snow before.
And Mount Lemmon (which is in the Catalinas) my dear wonderful Mount Lemmon?
This is the parking lot of the general store (purveyors of fine fudge and many other needs!) this morning. (Webcam found on this WONDERFUL site–windy.com.) The National Weather Service is predicting they may have up to three feet by this weekend! Which is marvelous. Summerhaven (the town up there) relies on Tucsonans and visitors trooping up there to spend money, and between fires and viruses and not much snow till now, it hasn’t been a great year for them.
We’re such whiners down here in the valley, though. It’s funny. People coming into work this morning gasping “it’s freezing out there!” when it was 42°. Me, cowering on my back porch when it was 45° as I dug through my chest freezer for some frozen leftover soup…
But it’s so pretty. As I explained to a coworker, I love weather. I get tired of the same thing day after day, which is a frequent issue here. Even as a homeowner, I still want things to happen! (not too bad of things, though!)
Anyway, yes. Weather. All I can do is enjoy it, and hope I don’t lose any trees.
(I wanted to write a longer post, but I am not feeling well. Please enjoy these pictures of snow, and people trying to make do with what we got.)