WHITE OUT

WHITE OUT

(2093)

Six hundred thirty- five miles to travel to set up Mom and Dad's Fiftieth Anniversary reception seemed like a monumental feat as winter was coming to a close in Michigan. My parents had moved twenty some times over the years and settled in the Upper Peninsula. It was beautiful countryside and I think they enjoyed returning to the area they had grown up in as young children.

It was a balmy March day here in lower Michigan as we set out with an early start. We had a ten to twelve hour drive ahead and one stop first to pick up my younger brother and his wife to travel along with us. Gathering himself into the front passenger seat to be able to visit more easily with my husband, my brother began our journey by asking “Did you check the weather for the next few days? Boy, you never know what you'll run into in March in the U.P.”

With some degree of confidence in the Weather Channel at home I replied, “Yeh, it looks to be clear until Sunday when we'll be heading back, that they may get some snow. We'll make sure to head out early Sunday.”

My sister-in-law and I along with my oldest daughter tucked ourselves in the back seat . Conversing along the way covering a myriad of subjects from our grown kid's lives, the art classes I was involved in locally, to reliving all the moves our parents had made. Leaning an ear our way my brother asked “Couldn't you have convinced them to have their celebration last year, when they lived down here? We all responded in laughter knowing how unlikely that would have been for Mom..

After a few restroom stops, a lunch break and driver changes, we finally arrived. Mom and Dad were excited to see us, as our tired bodies dragged into the living room to stretch our legs and relax. Mom brought out some homemade sweets and coffee to enjoy along with catching up on the news of their days, doctor visits and rides up to Copper Harbor. They had come across snow there, but most of the area around their home was small patches of dwindling small snowbanks. Spring was likely not far away for them as well.

Come morning, we headed over to the Reception Room early to set up the tables, centerpieces and await the arrival of the catered food and cake. We knew to expect quite a crowd as Mom was one of eleven children, who now all had grown families. The room looked pretty and I sensed Mom's growing excitement to be with so much family and friends.

I had set a special table for Mom and Dad, much like for a bride and groom. Glancing over at them it was hard to imagine that they had already spent fifty years together. They still shared that look between them that you notice in young couples in love. I was glad we were able to make the event happen for them, as they had not had a traditional wedding. As Mom and Dad cut the cake and guests all shared memories of times spent with them over the years, the sound of laughter and children's joyful voices filled the room.

The afternoon began to wane and I watched uncle John make his way over to my husband and my brother. They generally enjoyed sharing the latest sports stories, however this time my uncle had a bit more serious look on his face that then lent to his familiar, easy smile. I drew a little closer to tune in to the conversation and caught the end of my uncle saying, “Well, I'm just warning you, and Marie and I are going to head out now..”

“Hey, what's going on?” I asked curiously. My husband answered, “Well, uncle John said a current weather update shows a snow storm approaching tonight, so they are heading back down state early. I think if we get an early start tomorrow we should be able to miss most of it.” My brother grinned as he added, “Man, I hope you're right, but I agree I'm too tired to turn and hit the highway already!”

“Yes, and we have a lot of cleaning up to do here, before we can head anywhere.” I shared.

Our middle brother and his family joined in to quickly begin the clean up as guests began saying good-bye to Mom and Dad. I started wiping down the tables, when glancing outside I saw a few snowflakes gently floating past the window. Dad caught my worried glance and trying to comfort said, “Oh, that's nothing....just a few flakes!” As the clock continued bringing in the evening sunset, the flakes began to multiply and people's conversations took on a under current of concern with perhaps an upcoming snowstorm. Maybe uncle John had heard right and we should have followed his lead.

“Nah, they're not expecting we'll get more than a few inches.” my middle brother confided. “ That's no big thing! We'll be waiting for you to spend the night at our house...see you in a few.” as he and the family headed home.

Confident with his thirty some years of living in the area with his family, we went to bed that night exhausted but content that the reception was a success. The expectation of an early start to head back home, quickly closed my eyes to get at least a few hours of good rest.

A light tapping on the door awoke my husband and I in the early morning, feeling like we had just gone to sleep. My brother stood in the hallway and suggested, “You may want to just pull the covers back up, or come join me for a cup of coffee and watch the snow. We've got a real blizzard going on...a true White Out!”

“No way!, my husband replied, grabbing his robe to follow my brother down the hallway. Just a few strides behind, I took a look outside. “Oh my!: Sheets of snowflakes were blowing and swirling around outside with just the form of our rental car visible in the drive. “We better get going now before it gets any worse!” my husband commanded, turning to look at my brother, his wife and me. Our faces all bore the same look of disbelief in reply to his remark.

“You don't understand,” I said. “We wont get anywhere!”

“She's right.” my brother exclaimed. “The main highway 41 is closed!”

“Well then we'll go a different route. You best get your daughter up.”

My brother chuckled and continued, “There is no other road out of here that doesn't first connect to 41.”

“Well, I think we should still give it a try!” He exclaimed as he headed down the hall to go get dressed. My brother and I exchanged glances of shock, as I set about to go secure the suitcases.

Without saying a word, my young nephew pulled on his snow coveralls, Swampers and a cap, heading to the garage and firing up the snowblower. The driveway to the road was a good distance and if his uncle needed a clean path, he best get busy.

The house remained extremely quiet even with seven children arising and shuffling about. Both my sister-in-law, my daughter and I remained watching in wonderment out the living room window, as if waiting for the climax of a scary movie. Diligently, my nephew began plowing out the drive to the road, turning to make his way back in an effort to widen the path. Upon reaching the garage door, the initial run he had plowed, was half-filled. Meanwhile, my husband had joined him and began with removing the six inches on the roof of the vehicle, followed by the hood and trunk. When he had completed the windshield and lights he looked up to the window and motioned for me and my daughter to come. I exchanged a smile and hug with my sister-in-law as I exclaimed, “Well, lets give the stubborn Italian a chance to prove ha can make it!” Chuckling as I left I said, “See you shortly.” I had endured snowstorms in the U.P. before and knew within my being that this was the kind of storm that you throw a fresh log in the fireplace and sit to enjoy a fresh pot of coffee. There was no sense in taking on Mother Nature...you weren't going to win.

Making our way through the foot of snow my daughter and I trudged to the car. I quickly gave my nephew a hug and under my breath said, “Thanks for your kindness and being so accommodating.” With a smile he said, “Good-bye Auntie...see you again.” He continued ahead to once more clean a path to the road. The county plow had already been through once, so we drove within his tracks on the road up to the highway that led to my parents home. There we needed to retrieve my younger brother and his wife. Generally, this was a fifteen minute drive but we now prepared for a much longer drive. Block by block, taking a pause for my daughter to jump out and clear the headlights and tail lights, we traversed the white terrain.

I felt the fear of not being able to see clearly give rise to my resentment of my husband's lacking ability to conjure up logic. This storm event was bigger than we were. I didn't say a word... an irate driver in these conditions would only be asking for a slide into the ditch or further ahead the canal that separated the two towns. I could hear his wheels spinning in his head, faster and faster seeking a solution that would make his decision accurate. As we drew closer to my parents home, he asked me to roll down the window and see how close we were to the shoulder. “From what I can tell, as frozen flakes bit into my face in the open window, I would say were almost on it!:” I replied...my anger starting to become evident. I took a glance at my watch to confirm my thoughts that we had already been on the road for an hour. Perhaps when we get to my parents he will surrender, I thought.

Heading up the driveway, we were met by my younger brother that had traveled with us. “Now you know that this is as far as we are going to get today, right?” directing his question at my husband.

“I was thinking maybe we could cut off on one of the side roads and head west, getting by the storm...we need to get home.”

“Well, so far they've gotten over eleven inches this morning and are expecting twenty-three by tonight. The State Police have closed highway 41. Now, with my sister's asthma and us not really knowing a alternate route, I think you best park her over here and head inside! “ With a smile he headed toward the house.

Once inside my parents sat quietly until my mom spoke up facing my husband. “You need to forget about leaving today and just relax until tomorrow.” My head looked down as I anticipated a unfriendly dialogue about to take place.

On cue, my brother began his notorious story-telling. “Nah, we're going to give it a try and end up off into a big snowbank created by one of the plows on the way to Marquette. Our white car buried in snow until they find us in spring! Inside my sister will have been left wheezing away as she struggled to find her inhaler. In spring, after the thaw and they find us, evidence on the snow of the hood will bear her nail scratches as she tried to make her way out to breathe. Yep, we'll be the talk of the U.P.....”You know what? Some stupid flat-landers from down state tried to make it through that storm a couple months ago, and they finally found 'em nose first into the snowbank!”

Everyone began laughing...me in tears of humorous relief, visualizing the scene he had created. My husband threw his hands up in the air. “Okay, okay, you made your point! But, I'm starving. Do you think the corner grocery is open? Let's go take a walk and buy some grub.”

Gazing out the frosted dining window, I had to smirk at my husband and brother thigh deep in snow, heading through the wooded land toward a store that likely was closed.