imagine a different world.

The story begins on Thursday, March 6, 2008. That is when we started hearing about watches and warnings, when we started hearing about all the snow we were about to receive. No one knew what was coming, the weather people always predic, the “Storm of the Year” which rarely ever arrives. I had a feeling this one might actually deliver but I wasn’t sure. I even joked with my co-workers and folks about having to work at Nordstrom on Saturday and that a foot of snow wouldn’t keep the shoppers from shopping. Little did I know…

Friday, March 7, 2008. The snow started to come down around 11 am. It wasn’t blizzard-like conditions, there were no white outs, it was just consistent. My friend told me that the University of Cincinnati would be closing at 2 pm. It was beginning to get bad all around.

At work, it was someone’s last day, so we all headed out to lunch to say one last goodbye. Together we headed out in the snow. We had our nice 2-hour lunch, enjoying the food and conversation, taking a peek outside every once and awhile. The snow was still falling. By that time we were beginning to think, wait, maybe we might actually receive all the snow they are forecasting.

We finished lunch and ventured back outside into the snow. My co-worker drove us to and from lunch in his nice Cadillac Escalade, melting the ice on his windshield with the heated windshield wiper fluid. It was coming down, and even on the main streets it began to accumulate. I returned to a voice mail from my mom urging me to try and leave early. By 3 pm or so, it was bad enough that the Mayor of Cleveland, Frank Jackson, urged all workers in Downtown Cleveland to go home. At this point, I began to think and worry. Me being on the West Side of town and needing to head back to the East Side, that could take awhile. I began to think, maybe I need to leave early. Luckily, I was able to finish my weekly Friday e-newsletter early enough that I could honestly think about heading out a few minutes before 5.

I began talking with people around the office about the weather, seeing their thoughts about me leaving. My boss had left lunch to go to a wake so he wasn’t in. Most said because of the distance that I had to travel, I could and should leave early. I really had no pressing work to be done, so I began to finish up. My boss called to catch-up at 4. I left around 4:30. As I pulled on to Detroit Road, I started my stop watch. The visibility was fine, the snow just kept coming down at a steady pace and, therefore, began to cover the roads and highway. The snow-plows and salt trucks couldn’t keep up. Most of the time on the way home, at least on 90 E, I averaged 40 MPH, staying in lanes that were well-traveled, and therefore had less snow on them.

According to my watch, the commute home took approximately 60-75 min, when I average around 45. The snow continued to fall through the night, as I was out and about enjoying my Friday evening. As I returned home, the roads weren’t horrible but at the same time, weren’t great. I went to sleep without a care in the world…

Saturday, March 8, 2008. I was supposed to work at Nordstrom, the place where shopping occurs no matter the weather outside. My shift, as usual was 12-8. The Winter Weather Warning began at 4 am, 8 hours prior to the true beginning of my day. On Saturdays I normally wake up anywhere between 9:45 and 10:15 am so that I have some time to relax before I need to get washed up and dressed. On Saturday I was up at 10:15 and went to watch TV. Around 10:30 am my mom came in to tell me that due to weather, Beachwood Place would not be opening up until 12. The weather was bad.

I called my boss to check-in and see what he had to say. He told me that the mall was only staying open 12-5, he called off the early people and would love if I could make it in. I said I was planning on it. The night before, since I was the last one out, my car was outside overnight, as the snow fell continuously. Because of that fact, I got ready early.

After washing up, getting dressed and eating a bowl of cereal, my folks and I headed out to clean off my car. We were shoveling the driveway, it hadn’t been plowed yet, scraping the ice off my car and attempting to move my car. It was bad. We would move it back a couple inches, and then it would get stuck. Repeat. At one point you could smell my tires burning, probably not the best thing. My dad threw up his hands and told me I wasn’t going in. I was determined. I had to get to work. I called my boss at Nordstrom, who didn’t answer. I left him a voice mail telling him that I would try and get into work but I was still trying to get out of the driveway.

Somehow, someway, I moved my car from the driveway to the covered street. I decided that I would take a short ride to see if it was even worth attempting to go into work. Since I didn’t trust myself that I wouldn’t get stuck, I had my mom hitch a ride. Smart move. We drove down our street and onto Miles Road, which wasn’t plowed either. At that point I began to realize that I truly wasn’t going into work that day. I am stubborn and really am a good worker, but I knew that I wanted to be safe and sound and by going into work, I was putting myself at risk.

I decided to turn around 2 streets over, Cheswick. I was going to pull into the street and then back out onto Miles instead of actually turning around. Unfortunately there were other idiots out and so my plan failed. Mom told me to pull forward and turn around. I did, even though I had a feeling it was a bad idea. I got stuck. Again. This time we weren’t at home, and it was snowing and cold. I put it in Reverse, then Drive. Repeat. Luckily, I started to move and make my U-Turn.

I got stuck again. This time, I wasn’t getting myself out.

Seconds later, a non-city snowplow came down the street, towards us and Miles Road. My mom got out of the car and waved him down. He attempted to push me out of the “ditch” I was in, but couldn’t do it by himself. I called my dad and told him to call and tell my boss that I would most likely not be going into work. Seconds later, again, a co-worker of his drove down Miles and pulled over to help him and me. They both were going to push me out. Then, out of nowhere another snowplow man, working for a different company asked if we needed help, but the 2 gentleman said no, we were under control.

I got in the car, put it in Reverse and hit the gas. They pushed and pushed and I actually moved backwards, out of the snow. In a fatherly manner, the snow-plow man told my mom and I to go home and stay off the roads. I heeded his warning, especially after he so kindly helped me out. Mom and I headed home. She stuck her head out of the window, like a dog, acting as my eyes. The snow had begun to come down so much and so fast, I could barely see out my windshield.

I pulled into the driveway, went inside, and left my boss a voice mail saying it was just too bad, I was staying home.

During lunch we learned that Cincinnati was getting hit hard and they had declared a Level-3 Emergency, meaning you could only be on the roads if you had to be. Some heeded the warning and remained safe while others did not and ended up stuck en route to their destination. According to MSNBC, it was the worst snow storm in Cincinnati in 4 decades. Wow.

After lunch, the folks and I, ventured outside to take a walk and take pictures. Oddly enough, our dog was a wuss and would not join us. She watched safely from inside the garage. Some walked, and some ran, down the street, enjoying the snow and weather. No one was out making snow men. No one was out throwing snow balls. No one was out doing anything. It was somewhat depressing.

As we neared Miles Road we did realize that many people were out doing other things, including deliveries. A lot of cars passed us as we were admiring the mounds of snow at the end of our street. Even a “Gus’s Famous Onion Rings” truck passed us, en route to make one heck of an important onion ring delivery. Even as there was a Level-2 Emergency and police everywhere telling you to stay off the roads, this man had to make is onion ring delivery. I sure hope that Gus’s onion rings are really that good.

After fun in the snow, we returned to the house and just rested and relaxed. We weren’t going anywhere. At sometime after 4, my boss returned my phone call informing me that they made over $1,000 during the 12-4 stretch. At $10/person, that means 100+ people ventured out to eat at The Cafe at Nordstrom. Sure, the food is good, but is it really that good? He said that my presence was greatly missed but that he was glad I was home safe.

I later learned that regular customers complained that the Cafe was short-staffed. All my boss, acting as sole cashier, could do was bite his tongue and move on.

The snow continued to fall until 9 pm when it finally stopped. The fun, for now, had ended. Stay tuned for Part 2, tomorrow.