Thinking back on the nine or so hours
spent in a ditch in a Prius hasn’t been fun. Humility isn’t my strong suit.
The spring storm wasn’t technically a
blizzard but when your vehicle is slowly being buried by drifting snow the
distinction is moot.
All these years of packing a winter
survival pack paid off. Sure was glad to have that balaclava while out in 35+
gusting winds.
Cell phones are a great comfort.
The habit of keeping the fuel tank topped
off paid off.
Our family trait of not quitting and
pressing on can be over done. That road closed sign doesn’t apply just to
pilgrims.
While I’ll drive a car with traction
control that can’t be turned off if I’m paid to do so, I will never own one,
ever. Had I been able to turn off the traction control, I could have gotten
back on the road. I have years of experience getting unstuck and know several
ways of doing so.
My ever loving sister will never let this
incident be forgotten, ever.
Need to have reading material in the
survival bags, both the winter and the summer bags.
Having the ability to pay a tow truck on
the spot paid off.
Having a taste of what a refugee faces
makes me determined to never be a refugee.
In spite of all our modern “progress”,
Mother Nature can damn well kill you, and in short order.
Before summer arrives, need to unpack and
check the contents of the summer survival bag. At the same time check the
winter bag before putting it away.
I take no comfort in the hundreds of
motorists who found themselves in my situation. I’m better than that, damnit! (Yeah, I can
hear my sister snort) The tow trucks are still pulling out abandoned vehicles.
Occasionally you come across the phrase, “Africa
wins again!” Perhaps we should have our own phrase, “Winter wins again!”
