Life in the Ville by Jimmy Del Ponte

At the first mumblings of snow, we kids went into “snow day mode.” We watched Don Kent on Channel 4 and waited to see “Somerville” flash across the screen during the no-school warnings. If Sudbury flashed, no dice! But eventually, when we saw Somerville scroll across, we became jubilant! No school!

There’s nothing like a snow emergency to bring out the best in people. Not. But it does bring out a lot of hyped-up zombies who hit the stores mumbling, bread, eggs, milk … bread, eggs, milk! We bought into the weather nerds that the end of the world was coming. First stop, Home Depot for rock salt, snow melt, and shovels. Or go to Tags, which is closer but a bit costlier.

Even though most of us have more than enough food to last a couple of days, we feel the need to “stock up.” Did the weathermen and women predict snow or the end of the world?

Hey, I was 25 during the Blizzard of ‘78. Now that was a snowstorm! Let’s face it, anyone who was alive during The Blizzard of ’78 holds a winning card when talking about serious snowstorms. No cell phones!

Love thy neighbor, unless thy neighbor cuteth in front of you in the checkout line, beateth you to a parking space, or grabeth the last loaf of Wonder Bread.

In the final hours before the snow emergency restrictions clamp down, we become obsessed with final preparations. We can’t see the big picture. There will be snow, but we’re pretty sure we will live afterwards, and we will drive and walk another day.

During the Blizzard of ‘78, I remember trying to walk to Davis Square. The usual 3-minute walk took 45 minutes. Walking in the middle of the street was fun. With plastic bread bags over my socks, I’d try to keep the snow out of my green rubber snow boots from The Bargain Center. My friends and I made a lot of money shoveling.

In the old days, we would have been sledding at Powder House Park. I remember flying down the College Ave. side, right across the busy street, and ending up in front of Loud’s Candy Shop. Details Mom never found out about.

In days of old, we would be excited for a snow day from school. We built snow forts, went sledding, and watched TV. We ate grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

Nowadays, snow is just a pain in the butt. Just walking without falling has replaced sliding down hills on sleds and hunks of cardboard. I like warmth and comfort and television. The good thing is that I have enough bread and eggs to open a restaurant, and enough snacks for the Super Bowl. Be careful out there.