I had heard earlier this week about a storm that was supposed to bring a lot of snow to the area, but I thought that the prediction of 1-3 feet seemed a little extreme and unrealistic. Snow has been the last thing on my mind. Yesterday, however, I definitely gained a great respect for meteorologists and the meaning of Winter Storm Warning.
When I walked into my last class yesterday, my teacher was watching the Weather Channel. I saw a predicted Winter Storm Warning, but didn’t read the details. I began to wonder if my friends’ claims that we were getting a lot of snow were legit. I looked out the window and saw a very green landscape.
About the time I looked outside, an announcement came over the intercom cancelling all activites in the evening. I really thought everyone was truly blowing this out of proportion. They had even cancelled the girls basketball that of which I announce play-by-play. At about 2:20 P.M. I look outside only to find the green landscape evolving into a light snowfall.
What surprised me the most was how the snow was already sticking to the parking lot asphalt. Nevertheless, I didn’t think much about it as I left the school. I arrived home at about 3 P.M. I had two objectives: take care of some business at the bank and pick up a package at FedEx. I told Mom as I left that I should be back home by 3:45.
I knew as I was driving toward the town of Beaver that I was in for a fun commute home. I was passing what looked to be like New York City rush hour. Cars were lined up as far as I could see. When I turned into the bank parking lot, I was the only customer (lucky me). I managed to get in and out fairly quickly. Next stop: FedEx.
The route between the bank and FedEx is a steep, although, normally passable one. I saw my dad in oncoming traffic creeping down the hill at not more than 5 miles per hour. I started worrying. Not much later, I made it to FedEx and picked up my package. Now, to help you envision my short route from FexEx to my house, here is a map:
Another fun fact to point out is how the trip is estimated at 7.46 miles is predicted to take 15 minutes. As I leave FedEx, I am in first gear traveling at whatever speed the car travels when it’s idling. I call Mom and tell her I many be a few minutes late. As I drove down the same hill that Dad was creeping down minutes earlier, traffic came to a stop. It was about 3:45 as I’m stopped on the hill. Come to find out, cars were yielding to one of the many wrecks taking place in Beaver.
About an hour later, I made it to the intersection of Rt. 19 and Airport Road. I managed to swing through a shopping center parking lot to save around 20-30 minutes. At about 4:30, I decided to pull of at a convenience store and pick up some food. This wasn’t a bad decision. Mainly out of boredom and since I was basically parked on Route 19, I managed to have a chicken salad sandwich, Lunchables pizza, beef jerky, and a cup of hot chocolate. About every half mile I would pass a car in a ditch or a vehicle stalled on the road.
A little bit after 5 o’clock, I pulled off at a grocery store to pick up milk and donuts. I left the store at 5:30 and somehow made it home a little before 6.
All-in-all, it was a relaxed, peaceful drive home. I did come to find out later that evening that others had it way worse than I. From school children being boarded at the local fire station to cars stuck on the highways and byways throughout the state to people not having power, I considered myself very blessed to make it home safe and on the same day I departed.
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