With a huge swath of the country covered by mounds of snow, it’s time to face a seasonal truth: for wheelers, unless you’re skiing or otherwise playing in the snow, dealing with the snow and the cold stinks!

Big wheels caked with snow. Small wheels covered in dirty slush. All four wheels bringing snow and slush into the car/van and the house  …. everywhere you turn.

It’s one thing to mess up the floors and rugs in your own home, but, oh the embarrassment when you’re at someone else’s place. No matter how thoroughly you think you’ve cleaned your wheels, there’s always another glob of snow that drops  smack down in the middle of their living room. Or, your hosts can find you by following the trail of dirty slush you’re leaving as you make your way to their dining room table. And by the time your wheels are finally dry, it’s  time to head outdoors into the snow again.

With the snow also come these clothing issues:

• The sleeves and sides of heavy winter coats that get sopping wet.
• Gloves  – no matter how well-lined or waterproofed  –  that don’t stay dry, much less warm.
• Winter socks that are so thick you can barely squeeze your feet into your winter boots, especially when your feet swell.
• And speaking of winter boots, has anyone found a pair that actually fit properly, stay on your feet, aren’t too heavy, and manage to stay dry?

I’ve lived in a winter “wonderland” most of my life, so you’d think I’d know how to deal with the cold and snow.  Sadly, no. (It’s called denial.)

Just the other day,  ignoring all the forecasts calling for several inches to fall between afternoon and evening, I headed out without a snow brush in the car; only a quarter tank; no hat, scarf or winter gloves.  In other words, I broke every winter safety rule for drivers.

Sure enough, when it was time to head home, snow blanketed everything. My hands froze getting to the car glove-less, and the drive home took forever because of slippery roads, blowing snow and poor visibility. Once home, I breathed a  huge sigh of relief and tracked in a pile of slush.

If there’s nothing I can do about the weather (except move south), at least I could be better prepared. So today, the car is gassed-up, the snow brush is nearby and the heavy winter coat is out of storage and ready to put on the next time I venture outdoors.  Which won’t be today because it’s snowing  like crazy out there – again.