An Old Friend Comes to Town

As most of you know, Alabama is known more for tornado warnings and hurricane seasons than it is for a forecast of winter weather. In fact, the city of Birmingham isn't even equipped to host good ol' Jack Frost when he comes to town. No snow plows. No salt trucks. We don't have snow tires on our cars or snow boots in our closets. I mean when Jack only comes to visit once every 15 years or so why would we? But when rumors start to swirl that Mr. Frost is about to make at trip down South...excitement fills the air! Milk and bread disappear from grocery store shelves. Churches and schools cancel all their events just in case and everyone waits with fingers crossed to see the first flake fall.

All last week rumors of snow had been floating around the greater Birmingham area. Not just some flakes in the air - but actual accumulation! Being from the Midwest I am proficient in snow etiquette. I was prepared for this kind of weather. I was not however prepared for the commotion that was to come...

Saturday morning, around 8 AM, snow came to my town. It was glorious...just as I remembered it. Not a blizzard mind you, but a steady fall of flakes that sprinkled our rooftops, car windows and lawns. Now in the Midwest we would call this kind of snow a mere dusting, but in Alabama the world stopped moving. Local TV stations did non-stop coverage on the "Winter Storm". Shivering reporters scattered all over the area to interview folks on this miraculous event. Parents helped their children make snowmen the size of baby dolls and grown men made snow angels on the ground. It was a sight to behold!

Because I knew only pictures would do it justice I made sure to capture some images of the "Snowstorm of 2008". I am not sure how Alabama survived...

By lunch time "Little Jack Frost Got Lost" and he took his snow with him. In a matter of 5 hours the "blizzard" had come and gone. But, snow had finally come to Alabama. And while it didn't hang around for long...it was nice to visit with an old friend!