I have read with interest and humor many of the letters and comments on our recent snow storm and how we coped, or should I say cooped up.

I have a bit of a different perspective. I love the snow, the more the merrier.

I am not sure what people want our cities to do to cover the once every five year snow storm we get. If we ramp up with expensive equipment to have every street, lane and place cleared within a few hours of the first snowflake our taxes will sky-rocket and the equipment will sit the rest of time and rust away.

I have a few suggestions to help all of us better cope when we do have snow.

• Each household should have a snow plan and implement it when necessary.

• Equipment should include: snow shovel, warm snow boots, warm hats, coats, gloves.

• Information should include: local phone numbers for buses, taxis, power company, neighbors, family.

• Have a designated driver arranged who is equipped to drive in the snow. They can take you to work or the store or help in emergencies.

• Know your neighbors; it is great fun shoveling snow together.

• Know who to call as your “go to” person. That person who you know can come through for you.

No one in my neighborhood was stranded, period! And our street was closed at top and bottom. Anyone who wanted to, or needed to got out, did everyday and no one got hurt. They implemented the above plan. No one was stranded. Neighbors went to hair appointments, doctor appointments, even to a mammogram; work, shopping, driving around helping others, visiting shut-ins, delivering Christmas gifts, you name it, it happened.

Sure they were inconvenienced but, after all, our grandparents walked to school two miles in three-foot of snow uphill, both ways. We have become far too dependent upon our conveniences and don’t know how to survive without them. We have become soft.

Remember John F. Kennedy’s famous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Stay home or button up the galoshes and enjoy a walk in a winter wonderland.

I do believe the cities and counties, and the services they offer, can and should do a better job working together and having a plan to implement every five years when we have enough snow to sneeze at.

Metro screwed up relying on articulated buses for their equipment. They are not the proper design. The plow drivers could have not left snow pack in front of side streets, but remember my neighborhood got out everyday whenever they wanted even with our lane blocked.

I do believe employers should have a snow plan.

It is encouraging to know that Village Square Café did not miss a beat. Thanks, Mike Scott, for having dedicated employees who “found a way” even from Renton Highlands.

Sam Weirbach

Redmond