Many in the Midwest woke up today to snow, a blizzard to be exact... falling snow, blowing wind that's blowing the snow, and cold temps. Yesterday lots of things were being cancelled in anticipation of the coming blizzard - Christmas programs, school, the last day of a dairy course Dan is taking. Around the farm we did a few extra things... closed gates so they wouldn't be frozen in place, and unable to move, made sure the cows were near their shelters for the night, and helped our friend, the scrap metal environmental recovery guy, get the last piece out of our former decades old junk pile before it was froze in for the winter, an old corn picker.
But the biggest thing Dan & his parents did to get ready for today's blizzard, was to set their alarms for 5am, just like they always do, because the cows need to be milked. Everyday, twice a day, no matter the temperature, if it's raining or snowing, or a heatwave in the middle of the summer the cows need to be milked. Cows don't take snow days.
Of course there are lots of other professions that don't get a snow day today... our milk truck driver who picks up the milk the cows give, snowplow drivers (my uncle was one!), EMTs, doctors, police, and other public servants, factory workers b/c you can't shut down a production line that easy, and so many more that I can't think of right now.
I'm thankful that Dan's commute is short, just a walk across the yard to the barn. Days like this remind me why we live in a RV travel trailer for now - it's worth it to live so close to where you work, especially when it's a 24/7 job!
So to all who still had to work today, maybe spending more time driving slowly to work, or being out in the cold snow and wind, or helping others to be safe... thank you!
