Some weather notes

First, a tip of my new Stetson to Sam Friedman who shovels his own considerable snow in New Jersey -- and to anyone else who is doing the same.

As I've noted a couple of times, there is absolutely nothing here now in southeastern Idaho even remotely comparable to the blizzards in the central and northern plains and the Northeast.  How long that will remain is speculative but, if we get into February with little snow, it'll be a relatively dry winter for us.  There has been some snow all around us, so significant drought will likely not be a problem.

A great many vehicles around here are wisely equipped with 4WD.

The blizzard scenes on television are similar to those which can occur normally and frequently in many North Dakota winters.  The difference, of course, is that North Dakota (and Wyoming) are the least populated states, no substantial urban areas, and most of their residents are snow-savvy.  There is little to break the wind in North Dakota. Much of the state is "rough country" in the central and western parts but not "high".  The Turtle Mountain area in the northeast involves high hills and there are the not-that-high Killdeer Mountains in the west central area.  But most of North Dakota has no windbreakers -- and there's relatively little real timber -- and storms sweep down from Alberta and across from eastern Montana, simply gathering higher momentum as they travel along in uninterrupted fashion.  Winter temps can be almost unbelievable to persons outside of the region.  (One of oldest son John's (Beba) books is entitled Alberta Clipper.)

Long, long before we got to North Dakota, I inherited the winter coat of a maternal great grandfather of mine who came into northern Dakota Territory from Ontario in 1870 and established a very large land holding where he raised horses.  He was tall and his "Dakota coat", heavy canvas lined with beaver and muskrat. and even covering the better part of his legs, was super heavy.  It told us early on that North Dakota was very challenging winter-wise.  When we got into the state, I donated the great coat to the state historical society at the state capitol at Bismarck.  At that point, the winter was extremely rough and power had gone out in the capital city.  A friend of mine wise-cracked appropriately soon after I sent it off: "I bet they're fighting right now over who gets to wear that coat." (The coat resides in a permanent exhibit.)

Most vehicles in North Dakota have heating plug hookups allowing sitting vehicles to warm radiators while the cars and pickups are stationary.  But often, away from one's home, there are no outside electrical outlets into which a connection can be made.  Then, if at all possible during bad periods, people go out from time to time to simply warm up their vehicles.

 I remember a course I taught one evening at UND -- Federal Indian Law -- where the wind howled outside and snow battered at the windows.  I adjourned it a little early, 8:30 pm, so people could get home with deliberate speed. (I always told all my students that, even though I'd be there, they should not risk their physical well being to get to any class of mine.)  One student, Dewey H., remained behind.  He, no tenderfoot, was from the Fort Berthold reservation (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara) in the west central part of the state, and lived in campus housing only 200 yards at most from our classroom -- to which he had earlier walked.

He asked if I could drive him home.  I was glad to do so.

H

HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / 
St. Francis Abenaki / St. Regis Mohawk 
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO

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The Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:
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