Out Cold

Right Now: 32F (Feels like: 27F) Forecast: Hi 38 Lo 23

I had to work yesterday, and granted, I made a token gesture at Winter weather preparations. Knowing full well that it was going to sleet, I asked Mark to meet me at the office and then hang around with Jack on the north side of town to follow me home just in case. In case of what? I didn't want to linger on that thought for too long. Just - in case. I packed the car with two fleece blankets, a water bottle for myself and Jack, and his jacket. I have no winter coat for him, but it's only truly cold for maybe a few days out of the year, and I figured he wouldn't need one.

I forgot a few things though, such as a hat, coat, and gloves for myself, an ice scraper, and to fill up my car with gas. Can you see where this is going?

Once I got to work, I was in full blown Naturallycurly mode. I paid no attention to the weather and busied myself with all of the holiday orders and new product lines that had come in that day. Mark actually stayed around and helped for awhile, and then came back around 8pm. I found him outside diligently digging his small credit card into the sheet of ice that had blanketed the Jetta in the few hours I had been upstairs. I was appalled. Somehow, I had it in my head that it wouldn't really sleet. The temps were in the 20's with a wind chill hovering in the single digits. With no coat or hat, I threw a blanket over my shoulders and worked with Mark to de-ice the car.

Around 8:30, we headed out. I was so nervous, yet Jack sat in the back of the Volvo chirping happily about how much he loved Dora band-aids. Soon, it turned into a series of "I love oo Mommy's," followed by a very sweet soliloquy of how much he enjoys "big, big hugs!" His patience, adorable words and pure joy at being with me calmed me a bit as I passed dozens of fender benders, abandoned cars and jack-knifed 18-wheelers. We sat on Mopac near the Lake Austin bridge for 45 minutes waiting for a de-icing truck that never came. I was so low on gas I could see myself running out and being stuck on Mopac in freezing temperatures with a 2 year old shivering in the backseat. The thought had me paralized with fear. Finally, it the middle of south bound Mopac, I did a 3 point turn and slid slowly down the shoulder to the next exit. Mark and I carefully navigated our way through Austin avoiding major roads with overpasses and arrived safely at our house 2 hours later. The drive home normally takes 15 minutes.

We were lucky. We successfully avoided an accident, but the road was so littered them that I think my mom's spirit somehow guided me home. I tried to keep my cool so Jack wouldn't sense my panic. About an hour into the journey, Jack chirped "This is an adventure! I love ice!" god, I love my kid! He never lost his cheerfulness. He was fast asleep by the time we slid into the driveway and never awoke as Mark removed him from his carseat with shakey hands.

I have never been so afraid in my life.