A normal winter in Alabama is pretty mild compared to the winters I've experienced in Virginia and Sarajevo. I was expecting more of the same after a very lovely fall spent there. Boy was I wrong! We got hammered! And by hammered, I mean I got "snowed in" for two days in a crappy hotel in Talladega, AL with Liam and Sam, a pack of hotdogs, and 6 diapers. But I am not starting at the beginning, so let me go back.
Tuesday, January 28th started out like any other day. We woke up, had breakfast, and dropped Liam off at school (where he was star student of the week). I had an appointment for a haircut, so Sam and I headed to see my friend Whitney, knowing that we were supposed to get snow, but that Birmingham was above the "snow line" and that it would just be pretty to look at and nothing would stick. So said ALLLLLLLL the local meteorologists. And besides, hadn't I been living in hilly, wintry Sarajevo, driving my CIVIC through all kinds of snow and ice? Needless to say, I never gave the weather a second thought.
Whitney and I made small talk while Sam slept, and we commented how pretty the snow was when it began falling. I remember joking with her that I had turned into a snow snob like lots of my friends from "up north," remarking how
cute this snow was. After my haircut, I took Sam home and fed him before Mom called. Mom, who was up in Blount County, AL on a wellness contract, called to ask how the roads were since they seemed to be getting bad where she was. I told her I'd had no problem getting home, I drive in this stuff all the time, etc...and I left to go get Liam.
Well, the roads were not good, but I was in a heavy SUV and was confident in my abilities. I even rolled my eyes at the folks who were sliding and spinning out. It wasn't until I was the only one who made it over a big hill on highway 77 in Talladega County and saw the policemen at the bottom CLOSING THE ROAD that I realized I could have a major problem.
I was able to get through and get to Liam, albeit 30 minutes late--the poor teachers were waiting on us as Liam was the last one there. After getting Liam, I inched my way back toward home, wondering if I should and how I could get past the road block. As I crept closer, I took stock. I had a change of clothes for Liam and for Sam. I had half a bottle of water. I had grabbed a pack of hotdogs for Liam's lunch, thinking we would be eating with Mims. I had a diaper bag with 6 diapers. AND THAT WAS IT. I knew if I got stuck on a closed road, the emergency responders were under no obligation to try to rescue us, and if I wrecked the rental car, insurance would not cover anything. So I gave up. I pulled into a hotel. A very crappy hotel, where the boys and I stayed for 48 hours while we waited for 2 1/2 inches of snow and ice to melt and the roads to be safe again to travel. (It sounds funny, but it is not. You remember the news. Just look at these
photos! Those poor people, trapped in their cars for HOURS. What a nightmare! And it could have been us, except on a country highway, nowhere near other people to help out.)
It was not fun. But we stayed safe, warm, and thanks to the EXTREME kindness of Liam's teachers and a friend of Dad's, we were fed. They came in 4 wheel drives and brought us food, hygiene products, diapers, etc. After this experience, I will never be so unprepared again. I've had an emergency kit in my house for years (as should you all--get started
here), but I have never had more than a few things in my car. That ended that very day.
Anyway, on Thursday Dad was able to make it over to us, and we followed him home SLOWLY. There were still icy patches everywhere! We went right to Mom and Dad's, where I took a much needed shower and was able to put on my first set of clean clothes in 2 days, and Liam was finally able to go outside for more than 5 minutes at a time right outside our hotel door.
(It also needs to be shared that my poor mother also got stuck in a crappy hotel for 2 nights, but she had restaurants and a CVS within walking distance. So I am still the pity party winner. Although she did come home with a suspicious bug bite. Yuck.)
I took some photos to remember all the good times the winter storm of January 2014. Here you go!
Brothers stuck in a yucky hotel
Liam could only play outside for 5 minutes at a time due to the insane wind chill!
He made the most of those 5 minutes though!
WOOHOO! FINALLY HOME!
NOW OUTSIDE QUICK BEFORE IT ALL MELTS!
And in true Alabama fashion, the day after these pictures were made, the high was in the 60's.
