It's been a long November and December (so far) without snow, until today.

Today's is a mixed blessing.

We really do need the snow. It supports us in the winter months when a major part of Vermont's livelihood depends on snow related activities. Skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, cross country-- it all depends on a good ground cover of white gold.

At the same time, it is a serious life adjustment, with which some seem to have trouble.

Yesterday was a little squally, with intermittent snow showers occurring around the state. One such dumping involved a heavy 10 minutes of white out just outside Richmond, about 15 miles north of Montpelier. It also involved route 89. The result was icy conditions on the highway and a 16 car pile up beginning with a tractor trailer and a car. There was little foresight involved with this mess. A small helping of caution could likely have avoided it, but when you're on the interstate going 65 or 70 mph, slowing down isn't always the first thing to come to mind.

This seems particularly true to those of the driving public who travel in all wheel drive vehicles. Apparently the prevailing opinion is that if you have this marvel, you can go as you please and do anything you want. It's kind of like a moving version of the "You can park anywhere if you turn on your 4 way flashers." rule.

Just a few years ago, it was possible to drive the 35 miles to Burlington and see pristine snow banks by the roadside all the way. Not so any more. After a storm like today's, there will be several dozen places where the banks have been pushed back by surprise plowing incidents. Sometimes they keep going long enough to get back on to the road, but mostly they just go further than necessary into the median. It's interesting that as the winter progresses, this phenomenon continues. Experience doesn't seem to make a difference.

However, even though I'll spend the next several hours plowing and shoveling, the snowfall is a welcome occasion. It looks as it should, it feels as it should, and with any luck I'll keep out of the gutter myself now that I've complained so perfectly about all those other all wheelers.