Richmond has snow in weekend forecast?

The weather has turned frigid and weather forecasters are saying the Richmond area may have a dusting of snow this weekend. Anyone from there can tell you that forecast more than likely will not come to pass but just the thought of it brought a couple of thoughts to mind.

Whatever will Richmond do without a Ukrop's to stock up for groceries when it snows? This will be the first winter in 70+ years without a Ukrop's.

On my refrigerator is the January 2000 Gary Brookins editorial cartoon titled, "If Paul Revere lived in Virginia." In it, a horseman is galloping along shouting, "To Ukrop's! To Ukrop's! The snow is coming!" We all laughed at the realness of it. (Brookins, award winning cartoonist at the Times-Dispatch since 1979, was laid off from the newspaper in April.)

Not to worry, however. We can still pick up those Ukrop's goodies at Martin's Supermarkets, the group that bought out Ukrop's earlier this year. But somehow I cannot quite see the rallying cry of, "To Martin's! To Martin's! The snow is coming!" Besides, the snow probably won't materialize anyway.

Olde Richmond memories are stubborn things and Ukrop's has now taken its place alongside other Richmond icons from throughout the years.