Between Storms

After writing about our narrow escape from the ice last weekend, I heard from most of the family and decided they all deserve an update. This is the front yard of my cousins--Mike & Debi--in Sperry, Oklahoma. They didn't have much ice on trees nor did they lose their power, but this white stuff is all sleet, frozen solid. Their street is out there, someplace. Mike had a fall on Monday, and hurt his wrist and shoulder. Then on Wednesday night, driving home after his 3-11 hospital work shift, he lost control on the icy interstate and the car had to be towed home. It hasn't been a very good week for them!

All of Norm's siblings have checked in--Walt and Carol say they were mostly housebound in Irving but did get out to run some errands. Walt was working in his shop today since it was up to 39 degrees! Over in MIneral Wells, Maxine and Roy had lots of ice and about an inch of snow, and finally got out to do errands on Thursday. They stocked up for the next storm, and have been enjoying their fireplace and thankful to have electricity. In easter Kansas, Evelyn reported by phone to Carol that she had been snowed in until yesterday but has power and is OK. In Garden City, Don says the ice from the Dec. 29/30 storm is mostly melted although it is cold there. Their power is on, but they have friends who are farmers who still don't have electricity and may not get any for 3-4 weeks more. He and Kay are plotting for the reunion in June, which they will host. Out in Colby, Larry and Delores are snug with their wood-burning stove. Harold reports that they still have about two feet of snow in the yard, but the city streets are finally clearing up, and he and Jan are doing OK. At least everyone kept their power on and stayed warm through this past episode of Winter.

Times like these, it is great to have phones and e-mail and the Internet to keep in touch. Back in the 1940s, my Dad was stranded in Dallas for a week by an ice storm similar to the ones we had recently, while my mother and I camped out in a powerless home using gas stoves for heat. Phone lines were down and there was no way to know for sure when he would be able to drive his bus North and come home.

This weekend, more ice and sleet is spreading over Texas, and some snow is in Kansas and heading for Oklahoma and Missouri. Some of us may see 4 to 8 inches of the white stuff. It's winter, still. Although today in St. Louis it was clear and sunny for the first time in about 10 days, and Norm and I were astonished to see that it's still light at 5:20 in the evening. The days are getting longer, even when we couldn't see it. Stay well and warm, everyone.