Blinded By The White

Screwed out of a Christmas get together in Toronto last night with some fellow bloggers and all purpose snipers due to blizzard conditions and Sheena feels trapped and cranky.

Did a roast pork loin marinated in the marvelous all-purpose Rosemary Wine Syrup from Malivoire estates in Niagara along with a casserole dish full of roasted potatos, peppers, onions, carrots, garlic. Opened a light and fruity Henry of Phlegm Gamay Noir 2006

Stared out the window. Snow still blowing and falling as at this writing. A little bored. Have work I could start doing but not in the mood. Dragging out more old CDs. Forgotten treasure of the day Sam Robert's We Were Born To A Flame. Remembered the summer I tried to convince my secret American assignation accomplice that it was the greatest thing ever.

Dreading the trek into the office tomorrow. Glad I bought a shovel.

Look down the street and feel a little wistful. No one is going to come check on me out here. Eyes well up a bit remembering the greatest blizzard story ever. Winnipeg, November 1986, when the city was in full paralysis

Sheena was a starving student madly in love with what she then thought was The One. He was working downtown on a Friday night when the skies opened up and he took shelter in a borrowed dorm room. One for the record books. Her crazy baba got stuck at the CN yards and legend has it made it part way home on someone's skidoo. Gido did a quadruple shift, as did auntie Nurse. They were snowed in at work and no replacements were possible.

Sheena didn't have much in her apartment and figured she'd ride it out by borrowing essentials from downstairs. Looking out the window, the car in the drive way was completely obliterated. One big snowbank had engulfed it. Radio and TV blaring on about shutdowns, cancellations, no buses, no taxis, nothing but emergency services for the next 48 hours.

And then a knock at the door. Before her stood a tall imposing figure matted with snow and ice, facial features almost unrecognizable. In his hand was a bag. With a bottle of orange juice and a box of Old Dutch Ripple chips. "I stopped at the Shell store in case you ran out".

He walked home. From the University of Winnipeg, across the river to where Sheena lived. Down the middle of the empty unplowed streets. About a 5 mile walk according to Mapquest. He had mild frostbite on his ears and didn't stop shaking for hours. Soaked to the bone and boots full of snow. But it was worth it. He was coming home to me.

Sheena still has the blue and white sweater he wore home that day. His abominable snowman sweater as it henceforth became known. Maybe I'll go put it on. Take the chill off.