Snow Daze

We were looking at another cold, grey day, and it was already snowing very lightly at 7 am. We were wondering if it was really going to snow for real, the 10 inches the weather people claimed. Looking at the sky, looking in shaded areas to see if there was any accumulation. It was the end of January, and it sure felt like snow. For those of us with more than a few years of experience had a feel for snow possibilities. It can’t be too warm, say, over 30 degrees, or too cold- below 20 in central Maryland, anyway. You watch the weather forecast, seeing where storms are coming from, and where they are headed to. There have been many time a storm came from the west, only to hit the mountains and scoot north, missing us. Not a hard fast rule, just experience, but it helps you prepare for what you may have to live through.

Work at Martin University normally started at 7 am, today we were given some different orders before we started working. The Assistant Superintendent for Facilities, Matt, was in the shop as we filtered in. This was a surprise, since we usually never saw him unless there was a problem.

Matt started up at 7 on the dot, God help you if you came in a minute late. “Welcome. We have a different set of demands before us. First, it's supposed to snow tonight. I want everyone to put plows on all trucks, load bag salt into the small salt trucks, at least 20 bags per. Gas everything up, make sure there are plenty of snow shovels. Everyone is going home at noon, to return at 10 pm. Make sure you have a couple sets of warm clothes, and any rain/snow clothing you need. Full pay for today, overtime starts at 10. People who are late will not get overtime. we will be working through the night”.

He paused, then said “any questions before I go on? None? OK? The reason we are working through the night is, the President of the United States will be coming to give a speech to the students at noon, at the Athletic Center. Every road and sidewalk need to be completely cleared, no matter how much it snows”.

Scotty raised his hand and said, “All night? Won't we be kinda tired?”

Matt responded ” you will get breaks, but the Secret Service is telling us all vehicles need to be parked at 10 am for safety, no ifs, ands, or buts. Plan to have sidewalks heavily salted so the students can walk to the Athletic center. Basically, you will get a long break by 10 am”.

“Everyone check with Charlie for your duties this morning. Thanks, I’ll see you at 10 pm”.

That night, the three Assistant Supervisors, myself included, were given a crew to work with, and an area to cover. The directions were, shovel steps and crosswalk entrances to sidewalks, and salt heavily. Other people were plowing streets. We were listening to Charlie, and kept one eye on the snow falling., and we moved from one area to another while it snowed, clearing and salting as we went.

It was hard to admire the beauty of a snow covered landscape in the middle of the night when you should be asleep. A few hours went by, and one of my guys, Jose, started dragging and was shedding clothes. When I asked if he was ok, he said “I sick. Feel hot”. Within an hour, he collapsed. I loaded him in the truck, and took him back to the office, where I carried him in and put him on a couch. I found a blanket to cover him with, and went back to work after calling Charlie, the Supervisor.

“He’s probably hung over, Charlie declared, let him sleep it off”.

I was pissed, and yelled back “Jose isn't drunk. He is really sick, he was working in a tee shirt, he was so hot”.

“OK, OK, calm down, I didn't mean it. Check him in a few hours.

At ten am, we stopped. It had been snowing on and off all night, and was still snowing lightly, nothing to worry about. Matt again greeted us in our shop.

“Secret Service rules”, Matt said, “no vehicle traffic on roads. You won't have to do anything for a while, but you are on hold until after the President is off campus, which is estimated to be around two pm. Rest up and eat. Questions?

“Yes” I said. “Jose is pretty sick. I would like to take him to the hospital”. “

“Out of the question. The Secret Service won't allow it. Anyone else?. Good. See you later.

I gave Matt 10 minutes to get to his office.

Charlie, “I'm getting Jose to the hospital if I have to walk him in a wheelbarrow.” Charlie was surprised, then said “why don't you walk up to the Yellow campus exit and talk to the people there. There are some Secret Service, some county cops, and some campus police. They might let you by”.

So I did. When I got to the gate, I explained about my very sick coworker and my desire to take him to the hospital. I told them if they would let me through, once I got back to the campus, I pointed to the lot across the street, not in the main campus area, and Said “I will walk in and out, once the hospital called to say “come get him”. They went for it, and only gave a quick peek when Jose and I got to the barricade, checking to make sure we weren't lying or trying to pull some trick.

I delivered Jose to the Emergency Room at Sanders Hospital, staying long enough to explain Jose’s situation and take care of paperwork. The nurses took Jose away after he handed over his health insurance card and drivers license. I gave my work phone number, and asked if they could estimate how long it would take. “An hour, maybe an 90 minutes, the admitting nurse responded.

“OK. It will take me awhile to get back hers”, as I explained what I would have to do to return.

“No problem” she said, "we can take care of him”.

I drove back to the University, parked in the lot I said I would park in, and stopped to talk to the personnel at the Yellow Gate. I showed them some paperwork from the hospital, and told them I would be back when I get the call from the hospital. I also asked if they needed anything, drinks or snacks, but they were fine. I walked on back to the shop to wait.

Right on 90 minutes, the hospital called, said to come get Jose. What was wrong with him”? I asked. “Bronchitis. We gave him a few shots, and a prescription”

I walked on to the parking lot, and went to the hospital, and got Jose and his paperwork, including the script. I had no idea where to get it filled, and said so to the nurse. She said “go to Northeast Pharmacy, they are open”. I loaded Jose, and we drove there, got the script filled, although I paid for it. Jose didn't have enough money to pay for it, and no bank card. That wasn't strange. Usually for snow removal, we can get food from the university, so we don't have much money on us.

Then we returned to the yellow gate, talked our way through, and once at the shop, Jose took a seat on a couch and went back to sleep. I filled Charlie and the other supervisors in on the hospital trip, and they seemed surprised I had paid for the medicine. I simply said, “How is Jose going to get better without it? I'm not worried about getting paid back, I want him better”.

We finally got to go home around 6 pm that night, and the next day, when Jose came to work, he said “ I much better. Thank you for helping me. I pay you next payday. I no like working while watching the snow fall”.