A couple of days earlier, we couldn't get our house cool enough for our Thanksgiving guests. It's common in North Texas for temperatures to remain warm well into the holiday season.

So one can only imagine the folderol we go through when winter storm warnings are issued, telling us that ice and snow are headed our way. Yes indeed, our first "winter blast" causes quite a commotion.

It begins with the Dallas TV weatherman whose map shows lots of pretty colors. He points to the bright pink and says, "It's not if the snow and ice are coming. It's a matter of when." With this news, we hunker down.

Ever since I can remember, the good citizens of Ellis County -- even those who weren't listening to my family's radio station at the moment -- have considered it the official telephone switchboard for information on school closings. That remains the case today.

So with news that the outside temperature is 28 degrees and that there is 12 inches of snow hundreds of miles away in Amarillo, I'm up early to help answer phones at KBEC. Dad has usually handled this himself, but today he appreciates my help more than ever. (By the way, the only ice that accumulated overnight was on my windshield.)

"Good morning, KBEC, how can I help you?" I start saying about 6 a.m. The questions and comments I get after that provide entertainment kindred to none.

I begin with a cheerful attitude and try to maintain a carefree approach as the calls pour in to our limited phone system. We broadcast the school status reports every five minutes, but there are still those who'd rather call than go to all that trouble of turning the radio dial.

I guess my favorite calls are from sleepy and grumpy teenagers who phone about 7:45 (just minutes before they should be in class) and who become quite annoyed at the news that schools are open and running on schedule. You get the sense their schedules aren't in sync even under the best weather conditions, though.

Then there are the parents who challenge us by saying "Are you sure the schools are open? My neighbor's cousin said the schools are closed." To which I have little response but to explain that the school superintendent's word is good enough for us.

By 8:00 the excitement is over and business at the radio station returns to normal. Except for the fact that there is nothing normal about the radio business ... especially in a small town.