Tom says snow

If you’re a weather geek, you gotta bookmark the Web site of Tom Loffman, an honest-to-heavens meteorologist — as opposed to the Ken or Barbie pointing to a blue screen that’s the pretty much the rule these days. Loffman, of course, spent years on the air in this market, first at the mighty KCRA and then at … KOVR? Am I remembering right? And he’s fondly remembered in some circles for his too-true comment on how TV stations were more interested in having their weather types kiss dolphins than work the weather beat.

Good on you, Tom. Good on you.

Tom may be officially retired, but he’s still looking at the skies around Sacramento. And this week — as reported by The Bee, with skeptical tones — he is predicting snow. Not in New York, where last weekend it was a balmy, muggy 71 degrees in Central Park, but right here in Capitol Park.

This is the talk of the town. Snow! My mom got all teary-eyed remembering one snowy moment, when she and I (I was maybe 12?) came out of the old 12th and K Weinstocks into slow flurries. We just stood there with our arms out and faces raised, tasting the snow flakes on our tongues. A great moment for any lifelong Sacramentan, and a wonderful memory for us both.

I remember, too, when it snowed when I was at St. Francis High School, and later, when I was at Mira Loma (we moved out to the ‘burbs from East Sac). At St. Francis, we went into the classrooms when the bell went off, snow or no snow, good little Catholic girls that we were. At Mira Loma, we were uncontrollable, throwing snowballs even as the Vice Principal threatened us with Dire Consequences and Stains on our Permanent Records if we did not get into class, like now. The boy next to me hit the speaker with a snowball, and we played on until every bit of snow had been scraped from every last surface, turned into a snowball and thrown.

What will we do if it snows in the next day or so? I say let’s call a Snow Day, and be silly. It makes for better memories, that’s for sure.