Ah, sunshine and 85 degrees sure feels great after a week of always-below-freezing temperatures, snow and ice. Well, at least I’m sure it would if I’d been able to fly down to Cabo for my annual week in the sun and warmth as I was planning. And boy was I looking forward to it this winter. Thinking of drinking a pina colada at the pool bar was sometimes all that kept me sane dealing with cancellations and terrible weather.
All weekend I watched the news and weather coverage of what they’re calling the Winter Solstice Storm -- but always keeping a firm belief that things would clear up enough that I could fly south Monday morning. My sister braved the weather, driving up from Medford. She hit snow around Salem and finally pulled in around noon Saturday. We went out and made snow angels -- after a couple of hot buttered rums -- and Charlie got all worried so came running up to sprinkle snow and bad dog breath in my face. I laughed so hard I could barely walk back into the house, and this was before the 1/2-inch of ice made walking even more challenging.
When Alaska Airlines cancelled all its flights Sunday after freezing rain, I began to get a sick feeling. Finally the web page showed our 7 a.m. Monday flight had been cancelled. I spent much of the afternoon, evening, and night trying to call Alaska. Busy signals constantly. Then I finally got through, two different items, only to ultimately get a recording saying their phones were too busy and they couldn’t help me. How rude! Don’t think I’ll be flying Alaska again anytime soon.
So this morning, not knowing what else to do, we planned to drive to the airport (my brother had chains on his front-wheel-drive and was going to chauffeur us) but I finally got through on Alaska. After being on hold for 2-1/2 hours -- I am absolutely NOT exaggerating!!! -- I found out that they had no seats available for Cabo until December 29. That was the day we were scheduled to return and my timeshare condo was no longer available for me to use.
So we are hunkered down, amid snow that’s at least 15 inches deep -- maybe more, with layers of ice from freezing rain. We can’t go anywhere because I don’t have chains for my four-wheel-drive and chains are “absolutely required” everywhere in Portland. Since we have this kind of weather so seldom (I think this must be a 100-year snow storm), they don’t have plows or other equipment to deal with it. My sister, who lived in Minnesota for years, said this just would have been a typical winter day there. Not so here.
So I am spending Christmas at home this year. I just hope it clears up enough so that I can get to Mass and go see Karl and his family for Christmas.
I can be -- and am -- very thankful that I am not stranded at the airport as probably thousands are. I can be glad I have electricity -- thousands have lost their power because of the ice storms. I can be glad that everyone I know and love is safe. Charlie can be glad his Uncle Tom shoveled him some walkways through the snow that is belly deep on him so that he could go and take care of his dog duty.
So right now I’m dreaming of a green Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. Where the raindrops glisten and skies are mistin’ and all the airlines are on “go.”
I’m wishing you all a wonderful holiday and may your fondest dreams come true in 2009. For me -- as for many -- the last half of 2008 was way too full of disappointments, bad news, and disillusion. Here’s hoping things look different next year!!! Maybe I’ll take Russ up on his suggestion and head to Florida around mid-November and plan to stay there through March.
Travelin’Lady
