Thought of the day - driving in the snow

When I went to work this morning, it had been snowing less than an hour.  The roads were fine and the snow was beginning to stick to the yards and houses along the way.  It continued to snow for the rest of the day, basically.  So, when I left work this afternoon, snow was every where.  Of course, that meant that the roads were not in good shape.  But what else could I do but drive in it.  So, with my blinkers on, I hit the road and started my trek homeward.  It was not all that bad really because, at most, I was driving 22 mph.  I drove down Wendover Ave., one of the main thoroughfares of Greensboro.  I knew this would be the most direct and safest route between work and home.  What is normally a 3 lane (in one direction) highway had become a snow covered single lane fairway with tracks barely visible in certain spots.

Snow is one of those happenings that I really enjoy from inside my house.  I do not really like getting out in it all that much, especially in a vehicle.  I cannot tell you the last time I drove in snow like today.  I honestly do not remember because I do whatever I can to avoid it.  I definitely white knuckled it all the way home.  There was actually very little traffic on the road this afternoon which I was glad of and amazingly I only got passed once.  I did slowly glide through a few stop signs once I got off of the main roads and into my neighborhood...oh well.  I did make sure that no one was coming and I was going slow enough I could have stopped if I needed to.  At least, that was my reasoning.  I really just wanted to get home and out of my car and into my warm house with Michael and Squirt.

It's funny that as a kid, I remember both of my parents having to drive in the snow.  Sometimes it was because they were at work when the snow began.  Sometimes it was because school let out early because it started snowing.  Sometimes it was because one of them would drive to get Grandmother so that she could spend the snow days with us.  But, I never remember either one of them being afraid of driving in the snow.  If they were, they sure did put on a good poker face about it.  I guess it's just something that they knew they had to do.  I bet they had more practice at it as teenagers and young adults than we did.  Still, they never complained.

So, I had to take some of that parental spirit with me today on the road.  My goal was to do a good day's work, then to get home to my family.  And that's exactly what I did.  I conquered today's fear by driving 20 mph for 35 minutes on a drive that normally takes only 10.  And without having a cigarette...which is big because my anxiety today made me really want one.  Once again, when my fear begins to overwhelm me, I find myself looking to my parents for guidance.  I never really thought that I would still be doing this at my age, but I am glad that I do.

Next year, my goal is to live in a warmer climate.  If that's not possible, then at least I know I can creep along on the snow covered streets without too much fear.  Thanks, Mom and Dad!