(Tom Jirik wrote columns in several newspapers in Iowa from the late 1980’s to the mid 1990’s.  This column originally appeared in the The Boone Today in November 1988)I love snow.

There’s no two ways about it.

I like to walk in it.  I like to watch it fall.  I even like to drive in it.  I’m ready for big snow in ‘89.

I’ve spent two winters in Iowa now and the locals keep telling me that the past two winters have been mild by Iowa’s standards.  “Just wait,” they say, “Sooner or later we’ll have a real winter.”

So I wait. The snow falls.  The sun shines.  The snow melts.  And we’ve had two wimpy winters in a row.  I can’t stand it anymore.  I want snow.

Perhaps this love of snow springs fro my youth.  As a young lad I spent my most joy-filled days frolicking on the snow-and ice- filled plains of Minnesota.  I was born with a natural tendency to dress warm.  It didn’t need to be taught; it happened by instinct.

By February last winter, an exceptional winter, even by Minnesota standards, there was more than 48 inches of snow on the ground.  Boy, was I homesick.

I’m hoping it will be Iowa’s turn for record snows and record-low temps this winter.

It’s not that I dislike fall.  On the contrary, I love this weather.  I watched the Iowa State University Cyclones take on the Oklahoma Sooners at Cyclone Stadium in Ames last weekend.  The sun was shining.  The temperature was a balmy 70 degrees or so and there was just a hint of burning leaves in the air.  It made me glad to be alive.  I would have been gladder if the Cyclones had scored another four points or so, but that is another story.

The leaves were beautiful this fall.  The golds and browns of the fields as they were ready for harvest looked especially rich this fall.  It’s a great time to be in Boone.

But I’m ready for snow.  In fact, I’m ready for piles and piles and piles of it.

Those of you who don’t care for winter have had two wimpy ones to enjoy.  But to those of us who revel in subzero temps and massive drifts deserve our turn.  We will give you until the end of October to enjoy fall.  But when Nov. 1 rolls around, the temperatures better start dropping, the snow better start blowing.

If it doesn’t, I’ll be mighty disappointed in Iowa.

My jumper cables are getting dusty from disuse.  My winter driving skills are getting dulled.  And cold weather tolerance level is slipping.  I don’t like it.