Winter Storm Warning

A little piece about my experience driving to Michigan in the middle of the record-breaking storm we just had.

Winter

 Storm-

Warning

Winter storm warning-

My phone begins to beep. A heavy rain turns into 

Sleet. Then the snow begins falling

Deep. Cars slow to a speed

That feels impossibly slow. Time is in a bottle, and is

Impossible to follow- like a slow motion film, hazard lights-

Start to flash. Winking at me from 

Up ahead. My heart feels like it’s going to pound

Out of my chest.  Slipping and sliding, trying to stay inside 

The dotted lines, but failing. 

I look trying. up, and my heart is pounding 

Even more. The traffic signs are blotted out, encased 

In globs of snow. A honking semi with its 

Brights flashing, coming up to me from behind. My little cobalt chevy 

Skids, rocks, and slides over the roads, and as I try to move  

Into the lane, realized too late that I am

Smack in between the two of

Them. The weather has achieved its intent to wreak

Damage, and sow chaos, everywhere it touched, as I can feel panic rising . . . 

And, slowly, a garish head, that rises from a 

Place that’s deep and

Down below. A black, pulsating beat, networking between 

All of the hearts, in all of the cars 

On the street. I can almost see it- a tangible, horrible thing,

A smoke that’s coming out of their mufflers

Doors, tires and all (-I imagine thick, cloudy fissions leaking out of the cars). The image fades away as

I 

Start to slide again. I smack myself back into the 

Present. I give a little scream, and a minute later I punch the dial button.

“Dad- I’m a few minutes away. Stay on the phone with me, because I don’t think I’m-

HOOOOONK!- going to make it!” I cry in desperation.

“Stay on the phone!” Lights begin flashing. A few cars banked along the side of the road

Soon become a point of chaos in a 

Painter’s gloomy canvas (a bright idea, that!). Police cars and tow trucks join the fray-

My only thought is ‘God, please carry me

To Fitzgerald Street, because I do NOT want to spend my first night here

Waiting on the tow truck. I grip the steering wheel

As though my very life is in the balance. I focus on the road. My eyes have turned-

Almost, upon the instant, into tiny blue laser beams-

And, as if by some kind of magic it’s as if the car and me 

Are unified. I can feel every bump, groan, and protest.  I can get you there, I think, and my mouth becomes a tight, thin line of intention. ‘You’re gonna be okay.’ 

My chevy responds with a VROOOOM, as if to say 

‘I got you!!’ My beautiful old chevy cobalt! And, in a couple of minutes, I am 

Bumbling, rolling, and slipping down the road 

To my parent’s place. When my dad sees the headlights he runs 

Out to help, and a neighbor with a plow comes in

To assist the project. After a bit of plowing, and one big PUSH-

I’m in! Thank you, pastor, for the Thursday night prayer request. I really that think this time God has 

Truly heard. 

Em ~