Quarter Century

The first “winter snow event” hit the Wasatch Front this morning. The local networks have been freaking out about the storm approaching storm and following the low-pressure systems movement as it entered the State. The temperatures were still pretty warm last night when I went to bed an sure enough I was woke what sounded like a locomotive outside my window as the cold front finally wandered in like a questionable relative, you know, the kind you kind like to see, but never really sure until they live when you can ascertain how the visit went.

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the door of this house this morning to begin my morning commute and found no snow, no rain and best of all the temperature still seemed pretty warm—but how would I know since Dianne zipped the liner into my new yellow jacket and all of the sudden I am all puffy. As I got out on the road to the train station I did notice a light rain was falling but nothing to stop me. I was dressed inlayers, a ht and one glove for my hand which operated the wheelchairs joy stick.

The real storm did not make itself known or a couple hours after I got to work, coffeed and comfy at my desk ready for my day. As I watched the rain turn to sleet and finally huge fluffy flakes—I realized this was my 25 year anniversary of moving to Salt Lake. I mean, not to day, TODAY is not my exact anniversary but somewhere in this area and it was a day exactly like today. I had driven down from Blackfoot, Idaho the night before-right round this time of October and a Winter storm had blown in leaving 6-12 inches of heavy wet snow all over the valley floor. I was in Salt Lake interviewing for the Utah Independent Living Center position, the Center had put me in the Downtown Marriott for the night and I was more then impressed.

I got up and dressed and left for my interview which round 10:00 a.m.. I was surprised at the amount of tree limbs which had succumbed to the weight o the weight snow, traffic lights were out and traffic was pretty thin for a working day. The limbs and branches ha snapped due o the snow storm coming so early in the year. The leaves were still on the trees adding to the weight. I was surprise when I got to the address listed for the interview to find no one there as I broke new snow but pushed myself from my car to the sidewalk and up the ramp. A few minutes following my arrival the executive director showed shocked to see me. He had cancelled work for the employees a “snow day” I had
never heard of such a thing this far North. I got the job—Its now been twenty-five years and two jobs later and I am still here. It’s kinda of amazing of things which happen on a snow day like today.