Well...we've had quite the week. I think I left off last Monday with a post that said the only thing that would make Joel's birthday better (on Tuesday) would be a snow day. I wish I could take that comment back! :)
I've loved hearing everyone's stories. Everyone got caught in it. No one was prepared. I've never seen so much "good" go on in one community and city in all my life.
So here's our story! As we all know, Birmingham was not predicted to get anything other than a dusting of snow. It was all headed to our south. They said numerous times that there would be absolutely no travel issues associated with this storm for our area. So Tuesday started just like any other day. It just so happened to be Joel's 35th birthday...oh what a birthday it turned out to be! I took the kids to school that morning and headed on into work. I had planned to go out to a client's office in Ross Bridge that day, but for some reason, that morning, I decided that I would just work from the office (at the Summit). It was a "just in case" feeling I had.
Around 10, the snow started falling and about 10:15 we were told to move our cars off the top parking deck, so I did that. At that point, I thought I should just go on and go because it was snowing harder than I thought it was supposed to, but stupid me just went back into work. I even got out my cell phone and put it next to me because I knew daycare would be calling soon. Why I was waiting on that "call" I will never know. Why didn't I just GO??? I learned my first lesson of the day!
Daycare called at about 10:45 and said they were closing at 11:30, and I immediately left. However, it was already too late. I got in my car and started driving. Even on the flat road in the parking lot of the Summit, my car was sliding all over the place. I decided to go down the hill behind the Summit (by the apartments) and go out that way. I was going very slow down the hill, but I lost all control of my vehicle and the car just started sliding. I hit every curb on the way down and spun. I was scared to death. I knew then I wasn't going to make it to school to pick the kids up. Joel was in a meeting at work so I couldn't reach him, not that I could really reach anyone because the cell phone network was just so full that no one was getting any calls out. At that point, I was frantic. I knew I had to get to the kids. I drove up to the light on Summit Blvd and was going to turn left to go down the hill towards Cahaba Heights and it was already blocked with cars that had wrecked. There was no going down the hill or getting out of the Summit. I just went straight across to the Babies R Us parking lot and went in, hoping to borrow their landline so I could find someone to get the kids. I was shaking and crying...there is no worse feeling than not being able to get to your kids in a crisis. The thought never crossed my mind that they would be just fine at school!
I tried calling Charlie first since he has a truck and he told me he couldn't help because his truck wasn't 4 wheel drive and there was no way he could get to me (I didn't realize at this point that roads were already clogged with other frantic parents trying to get to their kids' schools, and others leaving work to get home!). Then I called my mom (crying big time at this point!) since they live the closest to the school. She said she would go get them. I was relieved. That was short lived though because she called back about 15 minutes later and said they had to abandon their car and were walking back home.
Finally, finally, Joel called and he was on the way to get them. He works off of Acton Road, but he said that traffic was not moving. He was stuck and it looked like it would probably be hours before he got to them. I was stressing big time because daycare was closing then...why I didn't think about the fact that daycare wasn't going to just leave the kids outside if they were still there, I don't know! I also didn't even think that there would be a lot of others in my same boat! I'm thankful for ALL of those school teachers that made the sacrifice to stay with the kids at school overnight. While we were able to get ours, some were not so lucky. I just can't imagine not being able to get to your kids...I know those mamas hearts were hurting. Mine was hurting for them!
Here was my hang out for a while before I figured out what to do...I'm thankful for them letting me use the phone and hang out! I even went looking for socks that might fit my feet because of course, my shoe choice for the day was a pair of high heels. Lesson #2 learned--must keep old tennis shoes in trunk of car. Walking in high heels in ice and snow is quite difficult...and cold!
Joel finally got to Liberty Parkway after 3 pm and walked from the top (he couldn't drive down the hill) to Brookwood Baptist where the kids were. Once he had the kids, he started the trek home with them. His plan was to walk to the Piggly Wiggly, which was about half a mile, and go in and warm up and rest, and then start again. My mom was going to meet Joel halfway on Liberty Parkway with warmer clothes for the boys and gloves and hats. It was able a 5 mile walk though!
This was the scene by River Run. There were about 5 cars in the Cahaba River. Glad Joel didn't make it that far!
Joel and the boys got as far as Lady Liberty when someone picked them up. Thank goodness for this kind woman in the red jeep wrangler! She deserves something really nice! The boys can't stop talking about riding in the cool jeep. Joel said that Harrison was screaming and Hudson wasn't thrilled about walking in the snow and ice either, so he was extra thankful for the ride. The sweet lady took him all the way home. So, 3 of the 4 of us made it home!
As for me, I ventured out around 3 pm with 2 other co-workers that were headed to Trussville. They were going to just drop me off at the Liberty Parkway exit and I too was hoping some sweet someone might pick me up and take me the rest of the way. Otherwise, it was going to be a long walk in those heels! Ha! We tried several ways and everywhere we went was either blocked with wrecks or just completely so iced over that we were scared to try it. We ended up parking at the CVS in Cahaba Heights and walking back up to work. It was at this point that it was really sinking in that I wasn't going home that night. Depressing!!!
Around 6 or so, one of my co-worker's husbands arrived and they were headed to their home off of Rocky Ridge Road. I thought, well here is my last chance to get a bed to sleep in. I thought if they could just drop me off on Rocky Ridge, I could walk to Joel's parents house in Countrywood. It was a really, really, scary drive to Rocky Ridge, but we made it! I walked down Rocky Ridge for a bit and then made the climb into Countrywood where a big tall glass of wine was waiting on me at the Reed's! Ha! I needed it! And the second glass too! :)
I thought it would just be for one night and it would be no problem getting home the next day. However, temps did not get above freezing the next day and the roads were still a complete mess. Charlie and I ventured out around 3 that afternoon to try and get me home, but all ways into Liberty Park were either blocked with wrecks or were still not passable, and 459 was at a complete standstill. After horror stories of those people who were stranded on the interstate ALL NIGHT the night before, we did not want to chance getting in that mess. So, we went back to the Reed's for another night. Boo! Although I was very thankful for all they did for me and everyone was safe and sound and warm and decided that maybe I should just enjoy my little mini vacay...with my inlaws. :) I thankfully have good inlaws! Joel got to see first hand how it is with the boys with no help! He survived!
This was at the Colonnade Wednesday afternoon...abandoned cars everywhere!
Glad the snowpocalypse of 2014 is now over and melted. I'm pretty sure that we will not be this unprepared again. I'm planning to stay home if there is even a hint of a snowflake next time! I love the snow, but I don't like being stuck out in it!
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