The Storm

Megan and Denis were due to come through Indy on their way back from Florida to pick up their cat and break up the trip for an overnight here.  This was for Friday, January 3rd.  Indiana had been bracing for a mega-winter storm for days, supposed to hit overnight on Saturday.  I had really hoped the kids could stay until Sunday, but the forecast told me they needed to get out of Dodge as soon as I could get them on the road on Saturday morning.  There were warnings for their neck of the woods up north, and for here.  I was a Nervous Nelly!

M and D arrived on my doorstep around 6:30 PM, as expected.  I had a corned beef dinner ready for us to devour. and their cat soon decided that she could come out of hiding.  I gave Denis some sweats to wear, and Meg got a robe, so I could wash the clothes on their backs.  (We didn't want to unpack the car for clean clothes, if there were any.) 

After dinner, we watched Fantasia on VHS.  Denis had never seen it, but Meg thought he should.  He did, although I truly think he would have been happier just going to bed!!  We all crashed after that.  Nice lullabye!

Saturday morning, we kept watching the weather reports.  I fed the kids one of my famous "skillets" and let them shower, etc....then watched the cat become terrorized when the feline realized that the dreaded cat carrier was on the horizon for her.  They finally pulled away from my drive just a few minutes after noon, Indiana time, and made pretty good time on the trip back to Grayslake, IL (probably 40 miles north of Chicago).  We kept in contact via the Internet all the way.  They stopped at a grocery store just blocks from home to pick up needed items before hitting the homestead...and I'm glad they did!

What happened hereafter that has been legendary.  The snow had already started at Meg's after they got home.  It started here shortly (Sunday) and didn't stop all day.  The airport (seven miles from here) reported 11 inches, quickly followed by high winds and sub-zero temperatures.  All efforts to clear the roads were thwarted by drifting and temperatures that would not allow road salt to work.  Luckily, I had already been to the store to stock up on foods and items that I thought would see me through.  Best thing I ever did!  MANY in Indiana have been without power since Sunday.  I, however, am not one of them..  Praise God, my power has stayed on...and now that the temps are moderating, etc., I have been dug out, with a lot of help from my friends!  Schools have been canceled all week, so far.  I'm so thankful that I am no longer in that rat-race!!!!

Thus endeth the holiday saga from here.  My son-in-law's parents, Luda and Sergey, should be close to home by now, having left Florida yesterday.  I pray for their safe return to the homeland.  They had a layover in Germany, then flew to Helsinki...and have to find a way back to Russia from there.  Loooooong trip!