Let’s set the scene.
You live in Boston, a New England city. You are a student who has chosen to attend a school here, or perhaps just an inhabitant of the city that is home to many college students.
We’re okay with that so far? Sounds good.
All week long you hear people talk about a big snowstorm coming your way. Your teachers are pestering you at the end of class, asking you: “Are you ready for the blizzard?” As someone who has grown up with snow, this does not freak me out. But think about all the people who are from warmer places in the world— unaccustomed to the threats of an impending storm. From a personal perspective of someone so used to it, I’ll never understand the overreaction to snow. I mean, we have professors here telling us that we must prepare for the snow – professors who know that the snow is not some huge threat, especially in a city like Boston!
As you can tell I am getting slightly heated about this topic. Let me inform you about my personal experience with this blizzard.
It is Friday afternoon, I have just finished a very busy week, busier than normal, and I had planned to go food shopping. Walking over to Whole Foods, I realize that everyone is going to be shopping for the biggest blizzard of their lives. I arrive at the Whole Foods on Westland and am met with dismay as there are multiple lines snaking around the store. I decided to shop around and wait in line because I finished all I had to do for the day— plus, I was in a good mood and figured I could wait it out.
I ended up waiting in line for 45 minutes to buy three items.
My beloved Trader Joe’s is next on my agenda. With practically no food left on the shelves, TJ’s was somehow an even larger disappointment than Whole Foods. Bread? Gone. Yogurt? Gone. Every single vegetable? Gone. I managed to find eggs, grapefruit, and some edamame and proceeded to wait in line for 10 minutes.
Mind you, I had made an entire list of food I needed for the week and I had only fulfilled half of my list. I decided to embark upon Star Market, a Boston staple. As I am walking through the massive aisles of Star Market, I find that I am again disappointed by the options left. Everything is expensive, and there is minimal produce.
It was time to walk out of my third attempt at food shopping – I had struck out completely. I feel as though I am on a walk of shame as I sulk home. I had been defeated by this blizzard.
So now you can understand why I am so angry at this stigma around snowstorms; especially when we live in a city with resources that allow for plowing in the early morning.
Citizens of Boston: you are not going to starve if there is a blizzard for a day. There is no need to flood the stores as if we are going back into quarantine. And my beloved Northeastern students, I promise you will also be okay. You are not going to die from a snowstorm, no matter where you are from or how unprepared you might feel. Wollaston’s remains open, dining halls remain open, and the snow is actually kinda fun! It’s nice to play in and soft. Everything will be okay. Invest in some snow boots, a thick coat and a pair of gloves and you will for sure be okay.
Despite Friday’s tragic shopping trip, I had a wonderful time in the snow on Saturday. On Sunday, I was even able to complete my grocery list – so yes, there is a happy ending.
Not to mention, we are living in a time of extreme climate crisis, so a snowstorm like this might not even come again this winter. If anything, we should be appreciative of it! So with all that being said, don’t be afraid of the snow, – just go out and have fun. And please, please from one Boston college girl to another, do not go into a panic and storm the stores for food.