Every year, the same story

I can never stop being awed by the stupidity of midwesterners. Living in this colder winter climate, I have learned over my 36 years that it takes more than a week or two of on-again, off-again, cold weather to freeze a lake or a pond.

Yea, it's been cold around here, one night is was in the teens and the days have had a biting wind occasionally. We have pulled out all the winter gear, have had snow which quickly melted in less than a week but honestly, what would make a man think that a pond is safe for his two children to ice skate on? Yea, there is floating ice on some of the larger lakes and the smaller ones have a layer of it but even my kids know that it is not safe. Sadly, this man and his 9-year old daughter have lost their lives. Thankfully his 6-year old was on shore and able to run for help. She was spared.

Each year in this area there have been numerous incidents involving reports of snowmobilers, ice skaters, ice-fishermen, and people just walking on these thin sheets of ice and meeting their death. And at about this time every year.

Certainly it must be exciting for those who enjoy these outdoor activities to be teased with the cold and ice forming on the lakes. I know that when it starts to warm up and the ice is off the lakes I long for a nice cool dip at our local beach but just know that 55 degrees is not exactly swimming weather.

Each year, there is always a special section in the paper or on the news that gives in-depth details on when the ice is safe. It is almost exasperating watching the news anchors explain this same thing over again after one has died due to their inability to check the ice for its thickness. Or their inability to have a little common sense at the expense of their lives and those of their loved ones.

I don't remember a year in the past that we haven't had a death because of this very thing. This very inability to follow some basic rules of nature. And each year, it just sickens me more and more. Perhaps I can understand that occasionally it is a teenager out ba-haaing on his snowmobile... the wind in the hair flying across a lake is exhiliarating, I've done it before. What a great ride that was too. Flat out flying across the lake we frequented when I was young. But for an adult to bring their young children out there on purpose? For an adult to assume that it's thick enough to go ice fishing?

I guess they don't watch the news or don't understand the laws of physics.

For the mother of this little girl and the sister and extended family that was left behind, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this holiday season.