[Magdalen] snow daze

[Lynn Ronkainen]

Was musing the other day via FB with Tina, an old family friend, about the 
blizzard of '63 in the Detroit metro area.  The snow started mid afternoon 
on a Friday and lasted 3 days. I think it may have been February or early 
March. That Saturday Tina, the oldest child/daughter, was getting married... 
down the main drag  *only* ~ 4 miles down Woodward Ave.

Woodward Ave is a 6 lane road divided by a lovely grass median our where I 
lived and was also part of the drag racing lore of the Motor City, even 
though it was in the northern suburbs. It started at the Detroit River and 
ran out to Pontiac as Hwy M 1 and beyond. It is instantly recognized in 
Detroit at just 'Woodward'.  Between the river and Pontiac, at every mile, 
there was a perpendicular 'mile road'. Some had other names but all were 
designated by their 'mile road' number beginning at 8 Mile (short for 8 Mile 
Road). We lived by 16 Mile, 1/2 mile off of Woodward. The wedding was at 12 
Mile Road at Woodward - the famous 'Church of the Little Flower' built by 
Fr. Coughlin* to honor Therese of the Little Flower. My mother was 
determined not to miss the wedding. My father thought she was nuts. 
[*he's the priest who had a radio show during the depression]

Two hours before the wedding my mother and I dressed up in wedding guest 
attire and robed ourselves in boots, heavy coats, hats, mittens etc. My 
mom's plan was to walk up to Woodward and take the bus. Ours were the only 
footsteps that broke the 1+ feet of snow on our street as we walked toward 
Woodward. We crossed the street which had seen some tire tracks, but not 
many, to position our selves to be on the southbound side and catch the bus. 
The bus that had stopped running that day. While not yet knowing that we 
were also deciding what to do next when a car pulled over near where we were 
standing and asked if we needed help. I have no memory of what my mom told 
him but soon we were in his car, headed to 12 Mile and the church, and of 
course the wedding.

My posting on FB about the storm was the first time Tina and her siblings 
realized how Mom and I had come to the wedding that day. It got laughs and 
more stories and memories of that long-ago day shared. For me this kind of 
stuff is the 'best' of FB.

Now, here in my Houston corner of the big TX it's getting colder - into the 
20s - and has started snowing like it's 'up north'.  Our homes are not 
really ready or insulated to stay warm at these temps... so I've got 
sweaters and a jacket on and  blankets hanging over a double window and my 
sliding glass door (the only window in my bedroom).  At least in my condo 
I've got other units on both sides of me so I'm not completely exposed. 
Made some clam chowder for lunch and  enough for dinner too and I'm 
hunkering down. We've got thick ice on the roads under the now falling snow. 
No snow plows here. During one storm 29 years ago when I first moved here 
the greater metro area paid 5 million$ for sand for the roads - so  many 
overpasses on the expressways and on local roads because we have so many 
large ditches and waterways that ice over quickly and are bad places to wipe 
out. I'm hoping it starts warming by Wednesday.

Stay warm everyone.

Lynn

website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck

"Mercy and compassion are more than personal options. They are the antidotes 
to that fear and hatred." Mark Singel