Sometimes it pays to procrastinate.
Andrew Larson pointed that out to me on Monday morning. Andrew is our graphic design worker. I had told him on Friday that my story about the lack of snow hadnít quite been written yet.
"Iím procrastinating," I told him. Andrew seemed to admire my honesty, and admitted that he was pretty good at doing that too. He had a bit of pride in his voice. Yes, it does lurk in the male psyche. So I understood him, I think.
"You were right about the story," Andrew said after greeting me Monday morning. I gave him my usual dull look, and responded with "Huh?"
"The snow!" he said.
"Oh right, right," I replied with a slow smile.
See, for the past month Iíve been meaning to write about our wimpy winter. First it was the warm weather angle. How is the above-freezing weather affecting farmers? I made mental notes at the Redwood Cafe one day as Kenneth Meyer and Mike Carpenter explained the hazards of freezing and thawing on alfalfa fields.
How are loggers faring with the muddy ground? How about trappers, ice fishermen? Thereís no safe ice!
Jane Palen was going to interview business people. No snow can mean no business for places that rely on snow and snowmobilers. We were going to divide and conquer and write an award winning story!
I even started taking pictures. I took one of Meyerís snow removal equipment sitting on his green lawn. I eyed the golf cart that sat in the back of Paul Weichertís pickup. Golfing in January? Thereís a story.
I talked to Fred Kruckow as he tinkered with a snowmobile that he was selling for his son. I took notes about the pros and cons of the mild weather on Kruckowís gravel and snow plowing business. He told me that itís easier starting equipment and getting things done. But then again there isnít any snow removal, so that hurts their income. Seems like there are always pluses and minuses, no matter what the weather.
All that ended Sunday night when the snow started falling. Then Andrew put an official end to the story Monday morning as he congratulated me on my God-given skill of putting something off.
We only received about six inches of snow. But itís a start. Now I say, like our great president, "Bring it on!" I like snow. I like how it looks and feels. I like how it lets me brag to cousin Barb out there in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We are Minnesotans. Weíre tough.
Then maybe I can write an article about all the snow we get. Thatís always a good story.
But then again, if I wait long enough, it will melt.

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Caledonia Argus
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