Snow Day Adventures

Although we've yet to see a good snowstorm, we're deep in the throes of winter, so today I decided to link up with Mamakat's Writer's Workshop and share what snow days were like when I was younger, and what made them memorable.

Honestly, snow days have been pretty rare in my life.  I spent my first five years in California, and then the next five in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Not exactly your best spots for snow activity.

I was four the first time I saw snow, and it's one of my earliest memories.  My family took a winter trip to Lake Tahoe, and my Uncle David decided to build an igloo for the kids.  My father and the uncles spent all day forming ice blocks and creating the igloo.  Our job was to drink hot chocolate and stay out of the way. Considering they were city slickers with not an ounce of igloo building experience, I remember that they did a great job.  We spent many hours the rest of the week climbing in and out of that igloo, hiding and making up stories of Alaskan adventures.

After that trip, snow days were mostly non-existent until we moved to Seattle when I was in 5th grade.  Yes, the stories you've heard about Western Washington and its snow issues are true.  The city completely shuts down when even the smallest of inches accumulates.

In our defense, there aren't a lot of snow plows, and the entire region is built on a hill.  A lot of very steep hills.  And we don't have much winter driving experience, so snow days just become one big bumper car situation.  It's best to stay home until things melt in a day or two.  Hence the shutdown.

Unless you were my school district back in the 80's.  School getting cancelled was a rarity, but one we eagerly anticipated each winter.  

The first time I ever heard my mother swear happened on a snow day during my Sophomore year in high school.  It was really coming down, but school hadn't been cancelled yet, and my mom, ever the rule follower, told us to bundle up and get in the car.  My dad was fond of VERY big automobiles, my mother was a California girl, and neither one handled icy conditions well.  Upon turning down the hill from our house, the Buick went into one long skid.  Mom yelled s*%$ as we slid ever so gracefully into the ditch.  My brother and I were so hysterical at hearing our mother utter a swear word, that we didn't even realize we'd gone off the road.  A few big pushes and we were out and on our way.  By the time we reached the high school, they had decided to cancel classes for the day. We were ecstatic, but by mother has never been so mad.

My best snow day adventure is also my scariest.  The winter after we were married was one of the snowiest Seattle had seen in many years.  I was working in Bellevue, normally a 45 minute drive from our apartment.  On a mid-December day, I was already at my job when the flakes began to fall.  G called the store and suggested that I head for home sooner than later.  But I was a fairly new employee with a long list of things to do, so like any good newlywed, I ignored him.  Five hours later I glanced outside and was surprised to see that 10 inches had accumulated.  I had no boots or gloves, but I did have a brand new Honda Accord with front wheel drive and good tunes on the radio, so I decided to go for it.  Not my smartest decision.

At 4pm I called G and told him I was on my way.  Six hours later, my poor husband was preparing to call out the cavalry. No cell phones in 1990, so once I left work we had no way to reach each other.  

As I boldly ventured out onto the streets that afternoon, I found that hundreds of people had abandoned their cars, right in the middle of the road.  No snow plows + 10 inches of snow makes for stand still traffic, so people just gave up and walked home. But I was 40 miles away, so I weaved around and pressed on.  An hour had passed before I even got to the freeway, where I was greeted by more abandoned cars.  I crept along, slipping and sliding, but determined to get home.  At one point my car did a full 360 pirouette across two lanes, came face to face with a semi truck, and kept on going.  I always picture the Swan Lake Suite playing as I remember that slow motion moment.

Three hours into my journey, and not knowing what lay ahead, I decided that I probably should get some gas. I slowly worked my way off the freeway to a station, only to find that their power was out.  No pumps were working.  And their payphone was broken.  In the words of my mother, s*%$!!!!

At the five hour mark, I was feeling pretty good about myself and my chances of making it home alive. Except I really had to pee and I was starving, but I was too afraid to do anything but keep going.  As I finally slid into the driveway, my pacing husband asked "what took you so long?"  I had to restrain myself from punching him.  I was so traumatized, I didn't go back to work for three days.  

And now, 25 years later, here I am, living in the middle of a hill again.  Even though I have a "mommy tank" with four wheel drive and big tires, I still don't like to venture out in the snow.  My family makes fun of me, but I don't care.

They've never been face to face with a semi truck while Swan Lake Suite is playing. 

Ahhh....snow days.

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Head over to The Blended Blog today for our interview with Carrie from Curly Crafty Mom. You're sure to learn something new about this creative, fashionable blogger!