Shirt-sleeve comfort

With the current polar vortex descending on this part of North America, even the hardiest amongst us are finding it frigid cold out.

There was a time in our youth when blowing the lane meant getting decked out in a full snow suit to battle biting winds and the plume of snow exiting the blower. It didn鈥檛 seem to matter what direction the wind blew, there was no escape from the cold.

Farm magazines at the time featured an ad that talked about 鈥渟hirt-sleeve comfort鈥 to be found in Case tractors, if memory serves correct. Boy, that looked good to us.

Now, spoiled with a cab tractor decades later, the worst of the harsh winter conditions is getting to the shed and letting the tractor warm up. But, like most well laid plans, there is always a wrinkle. Earlier in the week it was a shear pin that prompted an exit and some fumbling around in the cold to get it replaced.

That reminder of old times was reinforced on a forklift at work a day ago with the usual operator away. Dress pants and an overcoat weren鈥檛 much of a reprieve against sub-zero wind-chill conditions. But, you do what you got to do, as they say.

Heading to Orangeville immediately after that, we had time to warm up. In a relatively short period of time, we encountered municipal snowplows, an ambulance, an OPP cruiser and several private snow-clearing contractors. When the time comes to get out of their vehicle and fix something or handle an emergency, little stands in the way of frostbite, no matter how burly and well-dressed they may be.

It would be warranted, if the chance comes about, to thank these workers and wish them a safe day. Unfortunately, they are the clean-up crew that makes up for the poor choices residents often make 鈥 like driving too fast for conditions or taking unnecessary chances.

Up in Bruce and Huron County, near the lake, the infamous Highway 21 and other arteries have been closed several times. How frustrating it must be to rescue people and assist drivers that should have stayed home. Most locals know to never trust white-outs up that way. Taking chances threatens lives.

While happy that most get the drift and appreciate the efforts of emergency service personnel, we were disappointed to read about folks trash talking garbage contractors online.

Heading from Orangeville to home we saw a large garbage truck in the wilds of Caledon crawling along in drifting snow. This didn鈥檛 stop people from racing past to beat oncoming traffic on a narrow road. Emerging from the passenger side was a poor soul bundled up, grabbing carts out of the snowbanks and emptying contents. We can only imagine how cold it was for them. Even the driver looked frozen.

Come garbage day, people seem to lose perspective. Casting judgment on social media from a heated and well-appointed home hardly seems fair. Worse yet are the politicians and contract administrators holed up in lavish offices, dressed to impress, dumping on a workforce battling weather the best they can. It鈥檚 elitist chatter that really needs to be called out, so we are.

Thank you, outdoor workers, for keeping things rolling, despite the horrible conditions. The vast majority appreciate your hard work.

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