Back in 1989 I was working for the Police Dept as a dispatcher. Like now, I didn’t frequent a beauty salon often except for hair trims and maybe a shampoo and style on a special occasion.
It was the day before Christmas Eve and there was going to be a party at one of the officer’s home. Trust me...those people can party but I usually went for any Christmas bonus that was given at this time on some jobs.
I was sitting in the salon under the hair dryer when I noticed a serious chill outside. Seems it was hovering around mid to upper 30’s which is cold in Florida with the winds. The clouds I noticed had a familiar pattern. I was from Northwest Ga, and knew those cloud formations. I pushed the hair dryer up and walked to the window, hair in curlers and intrigued with the weather outside. It sure did not look or feel like Florida. I turned to the stylists and some customers in ear shot, and said, It’s going to snow”. I got some really peculiar looks by those who were not snickering at such a silly statement. I remember one lady saying, “It doesn’t snow in Florida”. I had been a resident there for about 3 years and I never experienced any snow and knew that was a long shot but surely I knew what it looked and felt like. As a school age kid, I lived for those snow predictions and days of snow on school days in Georgia. I shook my head and repeated, “I don’t care, it is going to snow and soon. Those are snow clouds and the humidity is high and it is cold. I pushed myself back under the dryer and pointed to the window with a certain tone and said, “Florida or not, it is going to snow”. The listeners just laughed.
Before I got into the styling chair, I saw a few white flakes falling outside. I saw the peppering of light snow starting to come down in a steady dropping. I never said I told you so but I never saw so many of the locals who were getting hair do’s jumping from their space and running to the window. I was getting a kick out of the excitement and I must say, some pleasure of my snow prediction happening while I was still in the presence of the skeptics. The downside was my stylist could not concentrate on my hair due to watching the snow lightly fall in the not so sunny state of Florida.
I knew in the 60’s it had snowed in Miami and snow was rare but that was extremely rare. It felt like Christmas. It snowed that evening, off and on on Christmas eve and on into Christmas eve night. I had to go to my Mother’s house about 30 miles away from me and my sister from Ga was coming down but got stranded in South Ga. Valdosta if I remember. They had nothing in Atlanta but were shocked to see icing and snow this far south on Christmas eve on the Ga/Florida line.
It was marvelous and all were excited for this rare occurrence in Florida. (especially on Christmas Eve).
Headline
Remember? Saturday marks 34 years since Jacksonville’s last white Christmas
Do you remember? Snowstorm hits Jacksonville in December 1989
Never doubt a person who lived for snow even in Ga predicting snow when they are used to the feel. I say their prediction is better than many meteorologists. Our weather girl did not predict any snow that Christmas.
Have a safe and happy Holidays in the coming days.
( By the way, the only bonus I got that year was a snow and White Christmas in Florida). That was OK for me.