OUR OPINION: Advice for snowbound New Yorkers

OK, New York. This is Grand Forks calling.

We know you've got more of everything than we have, except clean air and breathing space, but we're not going to make a big deal out of that today.

Today's subject is snow.

You've got more of that this year than we do. That's unusual, we admit. Most of the time, we're the ones with snow.

We've learned how to live with snow, and so we've got some advice.

First, when the weather service says there's a storm coming, believe it. They're right more often than they're wrong.

And if they're wrong and you're ready, you haven't lost anything.

Second, when your grandmother or the mayor or the governor says, "Stay home," that's what you should do.

And if you aren't home and you get stuck, don't just abandon your car. Get it out of the way. Push it you have to.

Oh! It's a good idea to carry a shovel in winter weather. That can help you get your vehicle out of the way.

And that's important, because nothing delays street cleaning as much as cars littering the roadways.

If you do abandon your car, don't complain when your street doesn't get cleaned. It's more your fault than anybody else's, except Nature's, and nobody can tell Nature what to do.

And another thing.

Don't expect to fly during a snowstorm. Snow falls on the runways, too. And snow obscures the pilots' vision. You're much better off on the ground. It's much safer. Accept it.

OK, so we've gotten you through the storm. Here's how you should behave after the storm.

First, help each other out. Check on your neighbors. If you're healthy, shovel someone's sidewalk. If you're not, say thank you when someone shovels yours.

Second, stay put until things get back to normal, or close to it. Traffic gets in the way of street cleaners.

Third, be grateful. You made it through the storm.

And don't complain. A snowstorm is an inconvenience, not a disaster. (Of course, if you left your car in the street and an ambulance or a fire truck couldn't get through, that would be a disaster.)

You can whine a little, but please have a sense of perspective. It's not Sudan. It's not Afghanistan.

And besides all that, enjoy yourselves.

A storm is a good time to cuddle up with someone you love, even if it's a dog.

It's a good time to read a book or watch a movie.

If the power goes out, it's a good time to enjoy the darkness; after all, there's nothing you can do about it.

It's also a good time to reflect on how insignificant you are compared to nature's power.

And don't worry.

Life will return to normal, with all its annoyances and aggravations.

In the meantime, take time to listen to the silence that a snowstorm brings. If you're quiet enough, you can hear the snowflakes falling. Really. We know. We've heard them.

And we've learned from countless snow events much more severe than the one that struck you last week. In fact, we're dealing with one now.

And we're liking it.

Come to think of it, why don't you try that, too?

That's the advice from Grand Forks, where the snow is falling and the folks are relaxing.