Before I started my regular column in the Foxboro Reporter I was writing a lot of letters to the editor; this is one of them.
by Robert Gillis
Published as a letter to the editor in the Foxboro Reporter, 11/1995
Last week, the first big snowstorm of the season was threatening the area. After being nearly killed twice by snow-crazed motorists, I stopped at the supermarket for some dog food, milk, and some other necessities. What I saw amazed me. The lines were twenty deep. The bread aisle was completely empty—except for pumpernickel, which nobody seems to like. I had to buy some of that dreadful 2% skim stuff because all the other milk was gone, and there was no chicken or hamburger. On a whim, I walked down the battery aisle—nearly empty. Candles? Just the birthday variety.
I can understand the necessity of shopping for food, but why in the world do we all flock to the supermarkets every time a snow storm threatens, frantically grabbing all the milk, bread, candles and bottled water we can find? Why do people drive like it’s their last day on Earth?
This is New England, people! It snows here during the Winter! In fact, it usually snows a lot here. The snow always melts in a few days, and life returns to normal. An impending snowstorm is not the end of civilization. Chaos and anarchy will not follow the storm. The milk and bread trucks will roll again. If the power goes out, you can be sure that the utility companies will be on top of things and restore service quickly.
Please, folks! This is New England! Don’t panic every time a snowstorm is coming. If you need food and supplies, go buy them. But let’s all slow down a little. A snowstorm is not the end of life as we know it—it’s just a snowstorm. This is New England. It snows here.
