Shield's up!

I long ago decided that Augusta is surrounded by some sort of weather shield. It's not necessarily a shield which keeps us from getting bad weather but one that keeps us from getting predicted weather. For days now, we've been warned about the wintry weather headed our way -- we've had the warnings to batten down the hatches and be prepared. As of yesterday, we were expecting snow and, worse, ice. The list for school closings started to grow -- but, having heard this kind of thing before, we told our youngest not to expect a day off -- and, while almost all the other schools did close, hers did not. We get very little snow and ice in this area and, quite frankly, folks don't know how to handle it (myself included) as far as driving -- so it makes a warped kind of sense to shut things down just in case. The thing is, though, it's seldom necessary. But what's the choice? A morning of chaos while different schools decide what to do? The chance that kids will be injured or hurt during the commute? Or that the schools will have to shut down midday -- which would make things much worse. Anyway, after all the warnings -- and the scary looking radar on TV -- we have awakened to...nothing. In fact, the skies are blue and it's shaping up to be a beautiful if chilly day. I must say I'm disappointed -- I was hoping for a little something white on the ground. But I didn't expect it. I never do. Around here, you have to watch out for the weather that takes you off-guard and by surprise -- the weather that even the forecasters didn't see coming. Anyway, once again, Augusta's shields held firm and we remain in our little pocket of unpredictable predictability.