The weather has been the major topic of discussion this past week, with a brutal nor’easter dumping 15-plus inches of snow on our peninsula, and as we prepared our column, forecasters were telling us another storm could dump a similar amount on us this week.

We’ll all agree that snow can be beautiful. The scene on Thursday morning of last week was breathtaking. We couldn’t help but think that someone seeing snow for the first time on that particular morning would be awestruck; it was that special.

However, then the unpleasant aspects of the snowfall set in; the steps and walkway had to be shoveled, the driveway plowed, and we would probably decide it was much safer to stay off the roads. We’re lucky we don’t live on a side street in a major city during a snowstorm, because we might not be plowed out for days, in part because parked cars along the streets make plowing a nightmare. Our local road crews work around the clock to keep our roads safe for travel, aware that hundreds of folks don’t have the luxury of staying home during or after a storm; they have to go to work. Snowstorms also have created problems for our school system this year because we’ve far exceeded the number of snow days originally factored into the school calendar. We’ve got to make them up before the end of the school year.

Power outages were widespread here in Lincoln County due to fallen trees and limbs, and those without back-up generators or alternate heat sources found themselves fighting to stay warm. It was either bundle up or go to the home of a relative or neighbor.  We won’t get into the feeling of being “deprived’’ when we have to go without cable for one day or several days. We feel isolated without the news and usually can’t count on the Internet which is not available, either. The trusty radio, our sole communication with the outside world for many years, just doesn’t seem to fill the void. Few offices function today without computers. Back in our early years on the job, a power outage at work was no big deal. Our trusty old Underwood typewriter kept right on clicking, and if we had enough daylight through an office window, we were good to go for the day.

While we’ve been busy moaning and groaning this past week, snow lovers everywhere were rejoicing, glad to get another significant snowfall to extend the season for skiing, snowmobiling and other outdoor activities dependent upon snow.  While we didn’t share in their excitement, we did understand it, and could remember back to the days when we, too, would have rejoiced. From a personal perspective, we’d like to think that we’ve seen the last of major storms this month or, at the very least, that the added warmth in the sun will quickly melt the snow away.