Blizzard Around The Corner?

During the record-breaking warmth earlier this week, I made a move to take out all of my driveway sticks that will help a snow plow operator discern the boundaries of the driveway. No one wants to see their snow plow driver pushing a row of sod across the front yard. Unless you're a worm-loving robin. The removal of sod would be like a Chinese Buffet to those birds.

But as I started to pull out the first stick, I stopped. Over 70 degrees and I had to stop and leave it. It's only the middle of March. There might be a blizzard around the corner. And I'm not kidding.

I recall the April Fool's Day Blizzard of years ago that dumped between 20 and 30 inches of snow on me up in Marlboro, Mass. East Greenwich did not receive as much snow that day, but having a blizzard of that magnitude hit you on April 1 leaves an impression. A hiking trail that I constructed was obliterated by small trees that snapped under the weight of snow and ice. I don't remember that much about the storm, but the lasting impression it made was to not be surprised by a blizzard in late March.

So my shovels are still ready and my bags of ice melt are still waiting. Even the sleds are hanging in the corner of the garage, looking longingly outside, hoping to be taken for a second run this winter. Most likely, they will not be used again, because I left those sticks in the ground. If I had taken them out and stored my shovels and sled and put away the ice melt, I am sure that there might have been a 10-inch snowstorm right around the corner. Or maybe even a small, surprising blizzard.