Friday's weather forecast was for 3 to 6 inches of snow starting late evening through Saturday afternoon. This was part of a massive winter storm system known as Jonas. We were just to be on the northern fringe of this storm, so nothing to really worry about.
It started snowing around 4:00 and I thought to myself that maybe the weather forecasters might be wrong again. I started to worry because I had a hockey game at 10:00 on Friday evening. So naturally I took a look at several radar sites on the net and it did look to be worse than anticipated. As the evening wore on I continued to look out the window every so often. The snow never stopped. It wasn't heavy thick wet snow, instead it was light and fluffy and coming down at a good clip. At about 8:00, I started to get ready for my game. I went out to start my car and what did I find? A delightfully miserable winter hinterland. There was at least 6 inches of snow on my car. I decided to call a friend who has a jeep to see if he could pick me up. He was at his parents and kind of far from here, but he said he would come and get me. I really didn't want him to go out of his way, so I said I would go ahead and drive myself. I went out to clean off my car and almost decided to just not go. A thought popped in my head. "Victim or life's adventurer, which of the two are you" from "Neal Cassady Drops Dead". I decided I was not going to let this god damned storm ruin one of the only things I love to do.
My trip to the rink was pretty uneventful. The roads were terrible. All were covered but they were navigable for me. I have a front wheel drive car and they are pretty good in the snow. The hockey game was great. We had just enough players and it was a fun skate.
After the game, my friend with the jeep asked if I was going to stop at the bar? This was about midnight and it had been snowing for 8 hours. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. "Victim or life's adventurer" reappeared. So I said what the hell and went to the bar. By this time, we had at least 10 inches of snow and the roads were horrid. I made it to the bar with no problem, as it is only a couple minutes from the rink. There were about 10 people at the bar as we arrived about 12:15 am. We got a big cheer when we walked in. The patrons were surprised but quite happy to see us come in. I call all the people there my "Friday Nite Misfits Club" We are all kind of outsiders, so it fits. High fives all around, for us making it.
We got a pitcher of beer and some pretzels, sat down and chatted. I continued to worriedly look out the window as the snow continued its wicked descent. I was definitely concerned about my ability to make it home because it was snowing at about 1 inch per hour. At about 1:00 am a city plow truck drove by, clearing the main street. That was it for me. That was my opening, I had to leave. We departed the bar and said our goodbyes and good lucks. I seriously didn't think I could make it home. By this time, we have had at least 1 foot of snow.
I cleaned off my car and nervously began my trek home. It is normally about a 15 minute, 7 or 8 mile drive. The roads in the city were not terrible because of the plow going by. I got on the highway to where I live. This road looked like it hadn't been plowed for like 5 hours. It was amazingly treacherous. I was having trouble seeing out of my windshield because the snow was so heavy it bothered my wipers. I had to lean just above the wheel to see. I just knew I was going to wreck and it was going to be all over. Some how I managed to navigate this jeopardous highway, back to the road where I live. I live about a mile off the highway up 2 very steep hills.
I pulled my car onto my road. Stopped and got out of the car, cleaned the windshield and looked up with great forebode towards the 2 intensely steep grades. If I wanted to make it home, I had to get this car up those 2 hills. There was at least a foot of snow on my road and it had not been plowed. This was going to be impossible. "Victim or life's adventurer", I thought and got back in my car. I slammed on the accelerator and on my way I went. Some how, some way my car barely crawled up over the hills and I gassed it and got part way up my driveway. I didn't get out of my car right away. I just sat there, emotionally drained and eminently thankful that I made it. I was literally shaking as I made my way inside. I sat for a long time at my computer desk rehashing what had just happened. I literally cannot believe I made it home and didn't kill myself in the process. So for once I can say, this time I was definitely life's adventurer. I will not forget that night for a long time.
We ended up getting 16 inches of snow here. Not quite the 3 to 6 predicted by the weather folks.
