Slow-Motion
Today, I saw an accident in slow-motion. Sure, we've all seen accidents before, and I've seen many I'd consider gruesome, but none were in slow-motion, save for the accidents I was in. I realize now that slow-mo is saved for those moments when your life might be impacted. That "holy shit, this is serious" reaction that slows everything down so that your brain processes it all correctly. The story goes a little something like this...
J had to catch a flight out this morning - part of a four-stop tour that will bring him to Fort Dodge, Iowa, for work. Yay. Not! We knew snow and wind were coming, but I really had no idea until I took a peek outside to see nothing but white and sidewinding snow. After picking up the pace, our first stop was the convenience store, then the freeway. Scary. As. Shit. We finally start making our way up the freeway on ramp, which feels nearly impossible with the slush, snow and steep slope (the 4 S's of shitting-my-pants, mind you). We were halfway up when out of the upper left corner of my eye I see a semi on the freeway. Oh wait, that semi is spinning out or something. Oh, is he going over the rail... at... us? Sure enough, the rail broke but he managed to get his truck on the road again, sparing our safety and lives. Needless to say, our sphincters were as tight as they ever were at that moment, and for about 3 minutes following it.
The roads looked as though they might have been cleared way earlier this morning for the church commute, but it had been dumped on since then. The snow really drops up here in Ogden, at least this year; drastically less snow than Salt Lake City. The roads started clearing as we started through Layton. The plows looked as though they were heading back north. So many car accidents, though everyone appeared safe... thanks to the snowy pillows against the cement blocks.
Everything was fine on the drive back from the airport, save for when I got off the freeway. It was clear until I came to the stop. I was only going ~10 mph, and probably less, but as I was crawling up to the red light, the light little bit I needed my brakes just wasn't happening. Just.... nothing. I thought I was going to bump the car in front of me, but luckily I didn't. I stopped before turning right into the complex, only to slide around into the little median thing they had. I was happy to regain traction and make my way into the spot, but geez.
The plows just weren't ready for what Mother Nature had in store for us today. A's friend said that it usually doesn't snow even a a 3rd of what we've gotten, and she said that before the last three (or was it four, I've lost count amongst all the "regular" snow we've gotten) storms that have dumped on us. Apparently, it's supposed to just be in the mountains. Since Snowbasin got 22 inches a couple of days ago (my town got 14 or 15), I'm guessing they're getting it even worse... which is good for them, I suppose.
Oh well, I'm staying home today. Superbowl. Commercials. Chips, salsa and a beer. Maybe some hot cocoa later. It's kinda hard to go wrong with that formula.
J had to catch a flight out this morning - part of a four-stop tour that will bring him to Fort Dodge, Iowa, for work. Yay. Not! We knew snow and wind were coming, but I really had no idea until I took a peek outside to see nothing but white and sidewinding snow. After picking up the pace, our first stop was the convenience store, then the freeway. Scary. As. Shit. We finally start making our way up the freeway on ramp, which feels nearly impossible with the slush, snow and steep slope (the 4 S's of shitting-my-pants, mind you). We were halfway up when out of the upper left corner of my eye I see a semi on the freeway. Oh wait, that semi is spinning out or something. Oh, is he going over the rail... at... us? Sure enough, the rail broke but he managed to get his truck on the road again, sparing our safety and lives. Needless to say, our sphincters were as tight as they ever were at that moment, and for about 3 minutes following it.
The roads looked as though they might have been cleared way earlier this morning for the church commute, but it had been dumped on since then. The snow really drops up here in Ogden, at least this year; drastically less snow than Salt Lake City. The roads started clearing as we started through Layton. The plows looked as though they were heading back north. So many car accidents, though everyone appeared safe... thanks to the snowy pillows against the cement blocks.
Everything was fine on the drive back from the airport, save for when I got off the freeway. It was clear until I came to the stop. I was only going ~10 mph, and probably less, but as I was crawling up to the red light, the light little bit I needed my brakes just wasn't happening. Just.... nothing. I thought I was going to bump the car in front of me, but luckily I didn't. I stopped before turning right into the complex, only to slide around into the little median thing they had. I was happy to regain traction and make my way into the spot, but geez.
The plows just weren't ready for what Mother Nature had in store for us today. A's friend said that it usually doesn't snow even a a 3rd of what we've gotten, and she said that before the last three (or was it four, I've lost count amongst all the "regular" snow we've gotten) storms that have dumped on us. Apparently, it's supposed to just be in the mountains. Since Snowbasin got 22 inches a couple of days ago (my town got 14 or 15), I'm guessing they're getting it even worse... which is good for them, I suppose.
Oh well, I'm staying home today. Superbowl. Commercials. Chips, salsa and a beer. Maybe some hot cocoa later. It's kinda hard to go wrong with that formula.