Blizzards

The only other time I can recall being in a blizzard was the winter of 1951 when we were in Minnesota to visit my father’s family.  I was 2 and was constantly sick with tonsillitis. 

We headed out from Minneapolis to drive down to “the farm” near Wanamingo, where the family had originally settled after coming over from Norway.  It was snowing, but no one knew it would turn into a blizzard.  (Weather prediction was still in its infancy.)

Part of the way there we got stuck on the road with a lot of other cars that couldn’t go anywhere.   I remember the panic that ensued because it was so cold and I was sick as usual.  Finally my uncle rescued us in a truck and we made it to the farm.  None of the other details other than the fear among the adults sticks with me today.

At some point in the trip, my aunt took the picture above, which shows my parents happier than I remember them ever being.  It shows the ashtrays which were everywhere in those days.  It also shows my right femur already rotated when I was but 2 years old.



It’s a wild scene looking out the back window today.  It has been snowing furiously ever since I got up.  The deck table is just about out of view, as are the weird chairs around it.  Jake has made a little tunnel near the house that he scoots into to return only minutes later after he does what he’s out there to do.  I’m wondering just how much shrubbery we will lose to the storms of 2010.



The good news is we still have electricity.  I hope my dire predictions of losing it at noon today never come to fruition.