Unbelievable

-
I heard the reports...

...I knew that I had to make my way home yesterday afternoon.

So I saw it coming, but I had a 3:00 appointment so I was going to be cutting it close.

I didn't make it!

Not by a long shot.

Here's what is aggravating...

...I made it to within a mile of my house.

What is worse...

...I was stopped dead in my tracks just 50 yards from the church parking lot.

If I can just get into the lot...I can walk home.

 God help me.

 Nope.

Not listening.

I sat in the car for three and a half hours.

An EMT finally made his way to each car window.

"It's going to be about six hours before we clear this. We're trying to make arrangements to get you to the church parking lot."

Yes! 

 The Church Parking Lot!!

 But that didn't happen for another 45 minutes or so.

When it finally did, I jumped from the car, grabbed my gloves and hat and started off down the road.

So happy.

And I fell.

Just in the snow though.

Smaller steps.

 Why do we live here? I was thinking.

I saw a man at the end of the lot.

"Thank God they got us here," I said.

"Two neighborhood guys donated their time and their plows to get the church lot open...and clear Abbott Road."

 Western New York, Bitches!

 We help each other!!

I walked about a hundred yards.

Didn't fall down.

Lake Avenue looked like a movie trailer that shows the end of the world.

A bus jack-knifed. A car in the ditch. Abandoned cars, Snow to my hip and blowing in my face.

I slipped again, but caught myself on the hood of a car.

The woman lowered her window.

A pretty girl.

"Do you think I can make it down Abbott Road?" She asked.

I laughed.

She didn't.

I told her about the church lot.

"I have to walk a mile in the other direction," she said.

"I'm a mile down there," I answered.

We chatted a minute longer and I felt a little better.

At the end of my road...I saw one of my neighbors.

He looked worried.

"My kid is stuck on a bus," he said. "If I go down Lake to Abbott can I get to him."

I broke the bad news.

Finally, I got to the end of my driveway.

Two feet of snow blocked my front door!!

There was grass this morning!

I entered the front door...

...frozen.

"How was your day?" Sam asked. "How's work go?"

 We both laughed.

 But, you know what?

I got off easy!

My beautiful wife was sideswiped by a guy who decided that a hit and run was in order.

She was lucky she wasn't crushed.

The car was.

"What a ^&*$%# Day!" She announced.

 Unbelievable!












Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more