Call Mr. Plow, that's my name, that name again is Mr. Plow

Let's face it: Canadian winters can be brutal. BRUTAL. I must admit, this one hasn't been too bad thus far (knock on wood, fingers crossed, etc...) but there have been a few dicey days-- and by dicey, I mean... icy. (Womp womp)

Today, I'd like to give thanks to some unsung heroes in our Canadian winters-- people who rarely get our thanks when they do their jobs, but always get complained about when things aren't perhaps to our liking: snow plow drivers.

I'm a super nervous driver in winter. I'm that compact car going 50 in an 80 because it's snowy out and the roads are covered. I usually share the roads in the morning with people trying to get to work as the 7:00am shift starts at their factory, and I know how annoyed people must get with me. All it takes is one little slide, however, and I'm in frightened mode, going 30km below the speed limit.

Sometimes, I'm one of the first sets of tracks on the road-- not pleasant at all. But then, like a beacon of light, I see that flashing blue light in front of me in the distance. I see the sanded or salted (rural or urban) road ahead of me, and I feel safer. These workers start their days earlier than I care to think about, all to try to get us to our destinations safely and in a reasonable amount of time. I think they do their best, and it definitely can't be easy (or fun) all of the time. When we get the luxury of having the choice to stay home in inclement weather, sitting in our heated houses enjoying a hot chocolate with Bailey's, they do not.

Those days where everything's snow but the road is clear-- that's when I really notice how good they are. Today was one of those days.

It's definitely a job I'm happy I don't have to do, but one whose workers I'm grateful for. So, keep your plow on the ice, boys (uh, I mean on the roads).