Home for the Holidays - Where is my Long underware?!?!?

Last Thursday, we struck out for Southern Illinois to have a quick weekend visit with my family. I rarely get home for the holidays and took advantage of having a long weekend, to go home.

We started watching the weather on Wednesday night. I was watching the path of the winter storm that was working its way toward my destination. Unfair. We kicked around not going, but I don't know when I am going to get more time to go, so we lit out on faith we would get there.

It is a 11 hour drive to my folks house. When I go with James it turns into 14. He likes to stop a lot. This trip, took 12. I was proud of him. We drove straight thru, trying to stay ahead of the storm. I kept getting updates from my dad as we drove. We hit some freezing drizzle not to far across the Illinois border, but wasn't too concerned, my folks don't live to far now.

Entering Marion, we hit the freezing rain, and the roads conditions deteriorated quickly. 5 o'clock traffic kept the tire tracks open, and the salt trucks were doing their jobs. When we arrived at my parents, the car looked like this. We acquired this much, in just an hour.

It is funny to see the car sitting in the dark, and it just be 5:30 PM. I never get used to time change. We got unloaded, the house was warm, and decorated and there was a pot of chili simmering on the stove. Oh God the smell of home!

By morning

And it is still coming down.

It has been 15 years since I have seen this much snow. I was like a kid. I couldn't wait to get out in it!!!! I bundled up and Comet and I hit the streets.

 Nothing is moving, and the snow is still coming down hard. The crunch of the snow under my boots, and the hiss as it fell took me to a place so long ago. In the quiet, I let myself believe for just an instant, I had somehow walked thru a portal and was 10 again. Me and my trusty side kick were on a snow adventure and gathering up the gang for a days outting of sledding, snowball fights and fort building.

It is good to be home again.