After two major snowstorms, and subsequent swearing at a groundhog in Pennsylvania, it looks like this winter will not be forgotten any time soon.

Trudging out to clean off the car in knee-deep snow on Sunday, Jan. 31, was reminiscent of the seven winters — and three blizzards — experienced in Bluefield, W.Va. Never thought Ol’ Man Winter would roll into the Richmond area like that though. Moving here brought an expectation — and great desire — for milder winters. Oh, well.

To the topic at hand. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all those brave souls who battle the elements on our behalf. While cabin fever was close to setting in, it was comforting being at home watching the snow falling, falling, falling. Didn’t have to go anywhere and, thanks to technology, so many facets of work can be handled from home.

Thoughts did turn to the crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation, as well as emergency personnel and, of course, law enforcement officers. Regardless of the weather, these fine folks are out and about to help us.

What a relief it was last Monday (Feb. 1) to see pavement on Lee-Davis Road and U.S. 360 when it was time to get to the office.

We’ve weathered (no pun intended) two significant storms and who knows what the future holds. One thing is for sure though: We’ll manage, thanks in large part to the men and women who respond to our needs.

Etc.

+ Remember the days when those reporting the weather were referred to as weatherman or weathergirl (don’t recollect any weatherwomen). A favorite story about weather systems — and how they might not develop as forecast — took place many years ago. The weatherman predicted partly cloudy. Well, the next day he comes running into the television studio — nearly missing his segment — to announce that he was late because he had been shoveling partly cloudy.