Disaster Mentality

What is it with these people? “Monster Storm due to hit Sierra.” “Plan to have 72 hours worth of provisions” AP describes: “Mammoth Lakes shopper spends an hour in line at the grocery store, AND has to wait for a cart.”

It’s snowing outside. A light gentle snow falling straight down from cottony clouds. “Gusts of up to over 160 MPH over the ridgetops.” Maybe two feet of the white stuff is piled on roofs. From the last 24 hours. A rather minor dump in this part of the woods.

Not that we shouldn’t be warned when a storm that appears troublesome is approaching. Not that we shouldn’t be prepared. Weather prediction is an inexact science. And there are certainly people who are distressed at present.

But I haven’t heard one word of what a blessing this storm is. Californians have been praying for water for a year and a half. The snow dance worked: lakes can refill and wildflowers will bloom again. What do we like about fear and negativity? Why do they seem to be at the core of our culture? Constantly viewed on screens and pages, this sinister mindset permeates our lives.

Or we walk out into the beautiful snowy world outside. The bracing chill vitalizes.
Snowboarders in the driveway are jubilant. It doesn’t seem hard to be happy.