We suppose it wouldn’t be a new year in post-pandemic America without some serious action early on in the calendar. Citizens across the Eastern Seaboard got their fill (and then some) of wintry wonder after this past weekend’s storm lived up to its reputation and dumped as much as two feet of snow across the state, with some snow drifts deep enough to swallow a compact sedan. Still, for all of its undisputed ferociousness, the storm did little in the way of causing actual damage or inconveniencing Rhode Islanders — save for the unlucky bunch that had to try and convince their canine pals to hop through an ocean of snow to go to do their business. Power outages were rare and isolated, and people were wise enough to stay off the roads, which were rendered all but invisible during the height of storm. Some of this fortunate outcome can be attributed to luck and the benevolence of Mother Nature. The weather stayed cold enough so that the voluminous snow was dry, light and powdery. Combined with a consistent, strong wind, the combination of forces kept trees from becoming inundated with heavy snow load, sparing electrical boxes and wires from collapsing branches and keeping the lights (and heat) on for lucky Rhode Islanders. But as deserving of gratitude for the lack of calamity during this historic storm (the fourth-highest snowfall in the area by recent historical accounts) is the collaboration of people to get through it safely. We cannot laud the efforts of municipal DPW workers enough for their dedication and determination to get out, early and often, and keep roads as clear as possible despite the horrible driving conditions. Local volunteers and firefighters ensure that fire hydrants are dug out, and police push through the conditions to ensure anyone in need of assistance or stranded on the roads were safely buoyed back to somewhere warm. Regular citizens, particularly those with snow blowers, who did their part to keep sidewalks clear and help out neighbors who may be unable to shovel for themselves also warrant a shout out. Not that it was a tremendously difficult call, but those in governmental positions also deserve some praise for recognizing the severity of the storm and declaring a travel ban, and likewise regular citizens deserve praise for adhering to that ban and not defying orders and common sense. And although they can take a pounding from residents, deservedly or otherwise, National Grid gets a nod too for keeping the power on and boilers firing. We’re delighted to have seen all these factors combine to allow us to simply admire the sheer amount of snow that now decorates the state like a chilly blanket.