Simple observations.......

   I don't need to remind anyone how challenging the winter of 2015 has been to date. Extreme cold and  endless snow storms have blanketed Central Maine with deep, deep snow that seems like it will never melt. I can't remember the last day we had temperatures in the 30 degree range.

   Many have described this winter as 'a good old Maine winter' but to be honest, I must either be too old or possibly too young to remember what a 'good old Maine winter' was like. But if this winter is an example, then I guess I am glad I don't remember what they were like.

   Current condition, the low temps and the constant snow, can bring out the best and the worst in people and as one who likes to 'people-watch' I only need to look around to see some folks at their finest and others, well.....

   I recently stopped  to pick up a cup of morning coffee and a bite to eat before heading off to work. ( By the way, the early morning temp was -7 degrees) A young girl pulled into the parking spot next to me and raced to the door. Although there were several others waiting at the counter to be served, she jumped to the front of the line, ordering a medium sized coffee and a donut.

   Almost back in her car, she returned complaining that she had not asked for sugar in her coffee and demanded another, without sugar. The clerk obliged, with a smile I might add, and the girl went on her way. As she left, the person in front of me in line shouted out to her .....”Will there be anything else deary or can I place my order now?” But by now she was pulling out of the parking lot.

   With the threat of another potentially large storm looming, grocery stores often become places that bring out more than the worst in people. No shopping carts or those little red baskets to put 'stuff' in, what's a guy to do. Pushing and shoving to get the last package of Ring Dings on the shelf....it's a shopping frenzy.

   And those shopping carts people are pushing around seemed to be filled to the top. I wonder if the size of the storm or the predicted amount of snow influences how much people buy to stock up. Maybe there is a conspiracy with food stores and weather personnel. The bigger the storm the more people will buy.

   The lines at the checkout are long and people become impatient, but it is a good opportunity to observe the latest in winter weather attire. This day, the temp was around 11 degrees. Topping the list of what to wear when one goes shopping were the brightly colored fleece pajama bottoms. There were at least five or six different patterns and designs waiting in the  checkout lines. Oh, there's one with the Boston Red Sox logo.

   Most people were wearing some type or winter shoes or boots on their feet, but right in front of me..... the person was wearing pink flip- flops. Now that's got to be cold. But she also did not have on a jacket or coat either. Maybe she was from Florida or some place warm.

   But sometimes the weather can bring out the good side of people too. An elderly woman was in the next checkout line. When told the amount she owed for her purchases, she realized she did not have enough money to pay the bill. (She was actually paying with cash.) Without skipping a beat, the young family waiting in line behind her paid the balance of her bill. No question she was a bit embarrassed and offered to pay them back, but they told her not to worry and they struck up a friendly conversation as they walked to their cars.

   I have been spending some time in several of the area schools recently. The only group more anxious for the upcoming mid-winter vacation than the kids were the teachers. I am sure that as Friday afternoon rolled around you could hear the countdown to the end of the day begin.

   Interesting, though. In talking with some of the staff members, few, if any, were doing any traveling to warmer climates this vacation. There was one cruise, one trip to Disney World and that was about it. Several were going skiing and snow shoeing.

   As winter drags on you can tell that people are getting 'edgy'. There are very few smiles or people saying 'thank you'. Everyone seems to be in a bit of a rush.

    For me, I am waiting for that first 35 degree day, the day when the snow on my roof begins to melt, the day I can begin to see my driveway again, the day I can take my car to the car wash and not worry about turning it into a block of ice. Surely then, people will begin to smile again.