Mom’s B.V. Babies Blizzarded in, in B.V Again

In the middle of a community service project we participated in, a blizzard came to town. It is the biggest snow storm we’ve had in over ten years. In recent years, we’ve had close to no snow. This blizzard hit town right when everyone was heading home for work. Thank goodness, schools were closed for the day in anticipation of the pending storm. It got so bad, so quick that people were stranded overnight on the interstate. Not just a few people either. Over a thousand people were stranded in Rockbridge County alone. We thankfully made it home safely. It took us over forty-five minutes to get home (it’s usually a 10 minute drive), but at least we made it.

By night fall, we were officially snowed in and going nowhere. We weren’t just snowed in; we were snowed in with my little brothers. Thank goodness we had plenty of toilet paper and Coke. The last time we were all three snowed in together, I didn’t have a driver’s license, Evan still ran around naked and Josh was a disgruntled tween.

Way back in the day, before Evan, before we lived in South Buffalo, Mom, Josh and I lived together in Buena Vista (B.V.). We would get snowed in all of the time. Late at night the three of us would go out when everyone else was asleep and go trekking through the snow. We were even allowed to go sledding in the deserted streets.

These late night snow adventures must be permanent fixtures in our existence because right before bed I tried to get Steve to go on a walk with me. He would take part in no such thing. He thought I was crazy. I tried to explain how much fun it is. He refused. I told him it was like a big secret adventure. He wouldn’t back down, so I did. However, long after Steve and I fell asleep, Josh and Evan tiptoed out of the house.

At some unreasonable hour of the night (4:00AMish), Josh and Evan went to the gas station for snack food. They tried to get Josh’s truck out, but with no luck. Can you imagine the comedy that was going on when no one was awake to see it?  Low and behold, they had to hoof it (that means walk) to the gas station, easily a two mile hike round trip. Evan claims it was some of the most fun he and Josh have had together. Josh denies any warm feelings towards the event. Maybe he’s still disgruntled. (Don’t look now, Mom’s crying.)

The next morning we woke up to two feet of snow, depending on where you dropped your yardstick. We spent the better part of an hour getting dressed to go play. When Steve finished taking pictures of the undisturbed snow (minus the evidence of Josh and Evan’s late night snack run), we were finally allowed to jump in. We threw Moanna in the snow. We made snow angels. We attempted sledding on a plastic lid. Evan lost a boot. We froze.

Unfortunately, Josh had to go to work. The restaurant he works at was the only one open in town, and the hotels were packed with people that got stuck in our rinky-dink county. Since we had no snow shovels, Steve and Josh dug out my car (Josh’s truck is not suitable for snow, rain or humidity of any kind) with the lids to plastic bins. Hilarious. I watched from the warmth of my bedroom window, as Josh pushed and Steve drove back and forth. There was lots of cursing and laughing.

With Josh off to work, Steve and I rejarred all of the apple butter we made over Thanksgiving into half pints. Moanna and Evan played games. We also made chocolates, lots and lots of chocolates. Moanna was in charge of sprinkles. I dabbled in snow cone making. Not too shabby if I must say. Steve became a water connoisseur by melting snow down into “fine water”. We ate a lot of food. Steve’s hands are still pruney from all the dishes he had to do. We did a lot of laundry. We drank hot chocolate.

I usually hate snow, but I had a great time being snowed in with my little brothers and new family. It was like reliving childhood memories.  (Mom’s still crying.) Next time, Steve’s going out late at night to go play in the snow even if I have to drag him out in his underwear.