All was sunshine and sugar in the morning
March 28, 2011
St. Charles County, MO
Kris Kolk
Heading home from Missouri’s third-largest city, Springfield, on Saturday afternoon, our family trip took an ominous turn. Radio station deejays were warning of chaos and turmoil in St. Louis apparently because of a few snowflakes.
The roads we were traveling were wet but appeared no cause for worry. Yet, the announcers continued to describe a scene straight from a horror movie. They said major highways were closed and road crews weren’t able to do their jobs because of all the accidents blocking their way.
The weather guy advised listeners to stay home where it was safe. Then, with a concerned, sympathetic tone he stated, “If you ARE driving right now,” his voice started to break and I think he sniffled a little, “please be extremely careful.” Well, maybe the weatherman wasn’t “that” dramatic, but it seemed so to us as we took our lives into our own hands and continued our trip.
We stopped at a gas station in the small town of Cuba to gather our wits and use the restrooms. As a woman gassed up her snow-attacked vehicle, someone hollered to her,
“You didn’t come from St. Louis did you?” To which the shivering driver answered, “Oh yes. BIG snow in St Louis.” Her eyes were glazy as if she just witnessed something unspeakable.
We figured heading into “the STL” would only bring danger and woe upon our lives. I asked for a room at a local hotel.
“Nope, all booked up,” said the woman at the front desk.
We were forced to plow ahead in the direction of home. In nearby Sullivan, we spotted a couple of hotels and were fortunate to secure one of their few remaining rooms.
Sunday morning we basked in the sunshine as we drove home. There was evidence of some snow, but certainly nothing monumental. It looked as if powdered sugar had been dusted on the trees and power lines.
I ask rhetorically, “Was it really that bad?”
Copyright 2011 Neighbors About Town
