Ice, Ice, #Nemo

We heard it was coming, a few days after experiencing our first earthquake and it was supposedly to be one of the biggest storms to hit Jersey in recent memory:  Hurricane Irene blew in late Summer of 2011, which suddenly sounds like a really long time ago.

Aaaaand, then Superstorm Sandy hit the east coast last October, nearly knocking us back into the stone ages, changing the face of New Jersey, forever.

So, yeah, I was a little nervous when tracking our first major winter storm since even before the hurricanes hit, especially one named after a cheeky fish.

Nemo was much kinder to us than our neighbors in North Jersey, but I'm pretty sure that friends and family in New England are STILL digging their way out.

I spent the first few hours of Saturday morning, peering out our front door, willing the snow to melt, hoping that it would thaw out in time for me to take my oldest daughter to work.

You see, I don't do snow, or at least I don't drive in it very well.  I had a pretty bad car wreck the first year I started to drive (YES, they had rubber wheels back then, be quiet, child!) and, well, I can still hear the CRUNCH in my ears, as my car was being rear-ended and my forehead hit the steering wheel.

I woke up in the hospital to find out that...YES!...apparently, a person can so sprain their esophagus. 

"Do you want me to drive, Mom?"

My oldest is super-soft spoken (no, she does NOT get it from me!) but, I still jumped as if my daughter was talking into a bullhorn and nearly swallowed my coffee mug.

"No, I would much rather you call in sick."

Yeah, great role model...I know...and I realize that she has been driving for over a year now and will need to practice driving in snow, sometime, just not nearly a foot and on her first attempt.

Good thing she wasn't scheduled to work at the hospital until midday, it took all morning for my son to chip away at the ice and snow that Nemo dumped all over our car (another advantage to having older kids, free labor!) and only now do I realize the irony:  the daughter of the world's clumsiest and most accident-prone woman WOULD work in a hospital.

"C'mon Mom, you're just making yourself more nervous, you'll be fine."

Aaaaaaad, that very fine line between parent and child (trust me, it's there) was blurred, once again, by my inability to shake stuff off and get over myself, already.

"Besides, you're the one who taught me how to drive...remember?"

Yes, yes I did and she's a gosh-darned good driver (in spite of it) so I guess there is still a little hope for me, yet.

"Hang on a second, I'll grab my coat."

Besides, the last time I attempted to drive in weather like this, I abandoned my car in the school parking lot and walked home, with all four kids in tow, while snow continued to fall...sideways...and I didn't have a coat.

But, NOT this day.  

"Thanks Mom, I'm proud of you!"

Tell you the truth, having made it there in one piece AND without embedding my fingers into the steering wheel, permanently, I was pretty gosh-darned proud of myself, too.

"I'll see you after my shift!"

Nope, but I didn't bother to tell her that her father would be picking her up, later that night, and I really shouldn't have to explain why...this LATE in the game...now, do I?!?

Stupid ice, dumbass Nemo.

© 2003 - 2013 This Full House

Comments

[Melisa]

Shew! I hadn't heard from you all weekend so I'm glad to know you made it back. ;) *wink*

Seriously, good for you for showing Nemo just who's boss!

[Tracie]

I think I would have told her to call in sick too...but, I've never lived in the snow, so driving in it sounds a little terrifying to me.

Good for you for braving it, and getting her to work on time. You are a super-mom.

[Patty]

I'm so glad you didn't get hit to hard this time. We need a break from extreme weather. I applaud you from getting over your fear and getting there and back safely.

I completely understand. When I was in college my car skidded on black ice on the Grand Central Parkway. I started to spin in circles and luckily the cars behind me were able to stop. I hit the brakes and ended up facing on coming traffic. I swore I would never drive again...that is until the next day when my dad made me drive to school.

Needless to say I dread snow and black ice. I'd rather walk! :)

[Liz@ThisFullHouse]

Ack, that was scary/crazy to read about, black ice is the devil.  Thanks for stopping by, Patty.  Miss you!

[Tara R.]

At least with hurricanes, the water recedes relatively soon. Ice and snow, dang, it sticks around way too long.

Glad you all made it through the blizzard in one piece.

[Why should i o it]

Thanks for the great article..