Cold reminds us to remember our neighbors

As we celebrate the short break in winter snow with blue skies and sunshine, it's time to remember our neighbors.

Single-digit nighttime temperatures, like the 6 degrees forecast for early this morning, and the inevitable icy sidewalks could mean disaster for our neighbors, especially the elderly and the ill.

While a fall on the sidewalks for most of us means a bump and a bruise, the same fall could mean a trip to the hospital or be fatal for others.

We remember this now because, during the last cold snap in late November, a Dayton woman died. She lay outside in her driveway for 24 hours before her body was found - a day after a winter storm dumped 8 inches of snow in the valley.

It is a reminder to the rest of us to keep our eyes open, to make sure the daily routines of our neighbors continue uninterrupted, and to ask the question if we see something out of the ordinary.

Now is a good time to introduce yourself to your neighbor, to make sure he or she has heat and food, see if you can combine trips to the store, lend a hand in the smallest of ways.

The ill, the elderly, the homeless and the poor have a tougher time of things when temperatures fall this low.

A slight chance of rain or snow is forecast for Saturday and Sunday - some already tired shoulders and backs are likely to get another workout. Remember, a smile and a helping hand can make the task a bit easier.

In July, long after all the snow in the mountains has melted, we will be glad to have the water to quench our thirst and water our lawns.