I was born and raised in southern California.  Heck, my cell phone's ring tone is "Sons of Westwood," the UCLA fight song.  I didn't know snow days existed until I married the Navy and moved east.  A couple of decades later, I can't say that I love snow, but I'm pretty used to living in it.  I can even drive in the stuff.

Which brings me to my main point.  I've seen lots of military folks drive in the snow, not only here but also in Italy, Virginia and West Virginia.  I know just what it's like to be confronted with a snow-covered mountain - with home on the other side.  I also know what it's like to discuss winter driving with people from snow-free cities - San Antonio, Texas, and Jacksonville, Florida leap to mind.  (It's a little frightening.)  Here's my suggestion: If you're in the military (or married to it) for the long haul, it's time to learn to drive in winter weather, even if you think you'll be stationed in Georgia for the next 20 years.  You're here now, and we get snow.

Just think about this week's media traffic reports.  "Multiple accidents!" (WTOP)  "Unexpected snowfall." (Baltimore Sun)  We owe it to our fellow drivers to be able to drive safely in snow - and to know when to stay home.

I spent two years living on top of a mountain in Sugar Grove, West Virginia.  Luckily, my Wisconsin-born father taught me to drive (with chains, no less) years ago when I was a ski-crazy teenager in California.  Later, he sent me magazine articles about driving in snow and ice.  I read them.  I watched friends drive into walls when snow hit our southern Italian town.  I decided I didn't want to be in those military accident reports.

When the time came to truly tackle "the mountain" in West Virginia on a weekly basis (gymnastics classes and Super Wal-Mart were on the other side), I was ready.  We bought snow tires and put them on our van.  I talked through snow-driving scenarios with my husband - no Blue Angels pilot paid more attention to detail - and stocked the van with blankets, water, ice scrapers, candles and matches.  I paid careful attention to which curves never saw sunshine during the winter - and figured out how to avoid the ice that built up on those curves.

I'm happy to say that I never had an accident - although I had one close encounter with a turkey buzzard - but I don't mean to brag.  My intent, rather, is to tell you that it can be done.  A L.A. "flatlander" can learn to drive safely in winter conditions, and so can you.  Here's how:

• Step One is to winterize your car with snow tires or (when needed) snow chains and to prepare an emergency kit for your vehicle.
• Step Two is to learn how to drive in snow, sleet and ice.
• Step Three is to slow down.  A lot.  Many winter accidents are avoidable - all you need to do is drive slowly and leave yourself plenty of braking room.
• Step Four is to know when to stay home.  If it's not about life, death or losing your job, do you really need to go out?

That's it.  Be prepared and be sensible.  If we all think about winter driving in this way, I won't wake up next week to a radio account of your accident, and you won't hear about mine.