No storm. No work, either. What gives?

The region was bracing for a hurricane as we headed into mid-week. But by Thursday, it was pretty clear we wouldn't get clobbered. Still, a few businesses closed their doors at noon on Friday, sent staff home with pay, and the staff is thrilled, of course. It's become another expectation and entitlement: Nasty forecast = no work.

But yesterday there was no storm, really. We have had thunderstorms worse than this.

Same thing happens every single time snow is forecast. Schools close before there is a flake. At least twice last year, there was no school -- and no snow.

Now, I'm not saying we shouldn't be prepared for bad weather, or that we should put business (or education) above personal safety. But we live in New England, for Pete's sake. We get four full seasons, and we get bad storms -- rain and wind in the fall and spring, snow in the winter. It can get very hot in summer. Go figure.

Here's what I think: When bad weather threatens, have a plan in place to send staff home or close. When it's a coin toss, it may be best to be safe. But when it looks as if there's more hype than weather, let's just go about our lives. We can live with rain, and even (gasp) a dusting of snow without going into a state of emergency.