Driving in the snow
Monday, February 23, 2009 at 11:50AM I have never been plagued with anxiety attacks. In general, I am a glass-half-full kind of person. I don’t have a short fuse and rarely throw temper tantrums.
Flashback to March 8, 2004.
A couple of inches of snow has fallen. At the end of a snowy winter, this doesn’t feel overwhelming. Schools are not canceled or delayed. Everyone is going about their business as usual.
I am driving my Suburu Forrester, following my father in law while he drops off his car for an oil change. My 1 1/2 year old daughter is strapped in to her Britax car seat in the middle of the back seat. On our way back, we decide to drive through my new neighborhood. Our foundation was poured recently and my father in law would like to see the progress. We do a drive by and turn back onto the main road. There is a small hill to go down before we turn onto another street.
I try to stop the car at the stop sign...and hit a patch of black ice. We skid completely across the street. I close my eyes just before my car crashes head on into one of them.
Back to 2009...
No one was hurt in the accident, except for the car.
My daughter giggled when it happened and has no recollection of the accident to this day.
I was a little sore, but after a couple of visits to the chirpractor, I was fine.
My car, which was only 4 months old, didn’t look all that bad. But, after a year’s worth of trouble with the engine, it finally needed to be replaced...something to do with a cracked alternator...blah, blah, blah.
The only lasting effect of the accident?
My anxiety to drive in any snow. We’re talking, pure, irrational, turn into a power bitch, I.Can’tBreath type of anxiety. Snow definitely brings out the ugly in me. It rears its head not just when I’m driving, but when I’m a passenger as well.
Gee, snow. Great trigger to have set off anxiety attacks when you live in NH, huh?!
Last night was the worst.
My husband had a work-related party that we HAD to attend. It was located at a restaurant about 45 minutes away from our house. The forecast was calling for about a foot of snow, but there was a definitely rain/snow line and we were located right on it. That means that we could expect 2 inches, or 12, depending on Mother Nature’s mood.
It was merely raining when we headed out. I was slightly anxious on the drive there - just enough to be a horrible back seat driver.
*ahem* You DO know that it’s OK to drive a little slower than the speed limit when the roads are bad, right?! Oh, you do? Than you don't need me reminding you to slow down every two seconds. Hmmf.
I think I annoyed my husband enough that he handed me a Jack & Coke (with a generous pour of Jack- thankyouverymuch) on our way into the party. Hindsight tells me that he should have kept it up and made me pass out for the way home. It would have been much more enjoyable for both of us!
The roads were horrible. The snow was heavy and wet and coming down at a rate of 2-3 inches per hour. The wind was starting to pick up. We drove through complete towns without power. The snow falling towards the windshield was mesmerizing and made it very difficult to concentrate on the roads. Trees limbs were being weighed down and hanging over power wires. People were driving like idiots. At one point, a transformer blew just behind us and everything went dark. It took over an hour and half to get home.
First of all, I feel for anyone who is prone to anxiety attacks. I am SO very sorry. They suck ass.
Secondly, I vow to you, here and now, if I am still living in this god-awful part of the world when winter hits next year, I am going to need some serious medication!
Reader Comments (1)
Holy friggin' crap, hon. I think I'd be in the same boat as you. Freaking out and all.
I remember spinning out my Miata on some black ice on a bridge. It was horrible. And I came so close to going off the side. And I sobbed. And I vowed never to drive in conditions like that again unless it was an emergency.
Aruba, here you come! :)