Question of the Week: How 'bout that weather we've been having?
By Cole Goodwin and Tom Peterson
Welcome to Question of the Week, a weekly news column that poses timely questions about life, politics, culture, economics, health, and more to people out and about in our communities. Our hope at CCC News is that having this space dedicated to being curious about other people’s experiences can help us to deepen our understanding of people from all walks of life.
This week’s question of the week is a timely weather-related question that asks us to consider how the seasons and the state of our environment impact us and others.
This week's question is: What do you think about the winter weather we’ve been having?
Sandra Nelson, 43, from Hood River but lives in The Dalles
“I love this weather. I’m sorry I do. I have a winter baby so this weather reminds me of her, you know. She was born in the snow.”
Katie Swindell, and Sharon Holland
Katie Swindell, 65, The Dalles
“It’s a lot…. al lot of trouble if you don’t have studs on. I didn’t get my studs on. It’s not too bad actually, kind of warm, a little bit cold, it’s kind of ideal.
Sharon Holland, born in ‘54, The Dalles
“I don’t know how old I am. All I can tell you is I was born in ‘54, I don’t like explaining age, it makes me feel older, and I don’t want to claim that…. As for the weather, honey, it’s going to come around every year, some a little worse than others but may the Lord just help us through each and every day.”
Peggy Anderson, 63, The Dalles
“I love it. But I don’t like the dicey driving. I'm very careful. But I love the snow. I love to shovel snow. It’s my happy place. It’s quiet. I don’t care how heavy or soft it is. If I can be out shoveling snow, light or dark I’m happy. It’s just so quiet and calming. That’s my thing. I don’t go out sledding or snowmobiling or anything. But I love to just shovel snow, even if it’s still falling.
My husband gets really crazy and asks “Why are you shoveling? It’s just gonna keep falling.”
And I say “I like to shovel.”
It’s a weird thing, but I do. I love it. I think it’s because when it’s snowing and you’re outside, it’s dead quiet. You don’t hear anything else. I mean you might hear cars going by and stuff but it’s just so quiet. I could do it for hours. In fact, I do and I make myself so sore. I don’t want to go out and shovel everyone else’s snow, I’m not like a workaholic. But I just love being out in the snow.”
Joe Garcia, 45, The Dalles
“It’s a crazy environment, but it’s not as complex as Troutdale.”
You’re really bundled up.
“They call me snowman, and I was like whatever, I’ll be snowman.”
Have you been struggling with finding housing?
“I’ve just been outside; I’ve been having bad luck with workers comp. I got bad eyesight but hopefully, the eye doctor will call me soon. My eyesight comes and goes, and my eyes blur. A lady hit me with a wire in my eye at Home Depot back in 2021, and that’s when it started. She knew I was hurt, but she didn’t take me to the hospital. I lost my eyesight for like a half-hour. She didn’t get arrested or fired or anything. They just did a workers comp thing, and then it took them forever to get me the documentation. And It’s been up and down, with COVID-19 and they owe me surgery. Jobs are really hard to get. I’m going to try to make a resume and try to get a job out here and see what happens.”
Queue Cecil was digging out on Saturday afternoon on Kelly Avenue in The Dalles. It was one of numerous shovelings he enjoyed during the course of the last week.
Queue Cecil, 30, The Dalles
“I could not drive how I normally do,” he said. “I had to do slick-weather driving. You have to ease off the brakes and allow the car to slow down naturally. You take your foot off the accelerator and don’t use the brake as much. People should understand that normal driving is not the same as winter driving. And always have supplies in your car” in case you get stuck. “And I’d rather shovel a few inches than a few feet with no slip-ups. I’m shoveling this snow (off the sidewalk) so nobody breaks any bones. “
Jesse Alvarez at the St. Vincent De Paul donation center on Ninth Street was hot and cold on the winter storm this week.
Jesse Alvarez, 29, The Dalles
“It was mixed emotions,” he said. “At first the snow was pretty nice, but recently I’m so done with it. My feet get wet working here shoveling sidewalks. I eat my lunch at Allen’s and when I walked across the street there were some pretty big puddles over there. The slush went above my Merrells.”
