Sometimes a dose of lunacy is the best prescription.
At least that’s the principle upon which I’m basing this week’s decision-making.
I started feeling well on Saturday. Like, well well. More well than I’ve felt since November, when I began a string of bugs that included but was not limited to Laryngitis, a sinus infection, various other infections of a less savory nature, strep, a seven day stomach virus, and then ending the last two weeks with laryngitis again, which turned into a determined throat infection that kept me awake for the majority of four nights in a row with inexorable coughing. This was all while I was getting a colonoscopy and endoscopy, discovering that my immune system was compromised (duh), and still learning to live with dysautonomia.
Oh – and homeschooling, blogging, year-end accounting, two kid’s birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
That’s all.
All of that set the stage for an extreme intoxication of euphoria starting three days ago when I suddenly felt well, energetic, and even vivacious, and this magic is still coursing through my veins now.
It was a life-altering experience.
Around the same time, there began talks about Tuesday. Of amazing snowfalls in South Alabama, even more stunning snow in the Carolinas, but just sub-freezing, dry air in Birmingham.
My feelings of jubilation coupled with the possibility of yet again missing out on snow altered my brain chemistry and made me believe that a road trip was the only logical conclusion.
My first destination was Greenville, Alabama (the real Greenbow Alabama, for you Forrest Gump fans.)
Then the maps changed. Next destination: Orange Beach, Alabama. Yes, for a tiny second, the models were showing a FOOT OF SNOW on the beach.
Then the models realized how idiotic they looked and changed again.
I continued changing my plans with each new map, and on Monday morning, I decided the predictions were getting close enough to ask our weatherman, @Spann, for advice.
But I worded my question carefully, because during approaching southern snow events he gets fifty questions per minute from people wanting to know the exact amount of snowfall in their step-brother’s backyard at 4:35pm on Tuesday afternoon because they have a cookout planned that they’d really rather not postpone and from teenagers threatening his life and limb if they don’t get snowed out of school.
So like I said. I tread softly.
Thankfully, he kept his opinion of my obnoxious question to himself and presented me with a treasure map – one single map, which was a beautiful thing after my study of dozens of vastly varying maps in the past 48 hours.
“Go to the pink on this map for a wild winter experience” was as mysterious and wondrous a clue as “The secret lies with Charlotte.”
Clearly I had to go.
For the children’s sake.
For the educational experience.
It’d be the best field trip all year long. And count for, like, 20 days worth of first grade science.
All for the children. Ahem.
But I knew Chris couldn’t go with me – after all, he has a busy job. But he was fully supportive of my dreams, and oddly unconcerned about hazards that could befall us. It’s like he knew it was my destiny.
So I was on my own. With my kids. Unconditionally COMPELLED to find this snowstorm and make it mine.
I went through a frenzy of plans – searching for hotels, rental houses, resorts, hostels, the location continuing to change with each new snow model – Charleston, then Columbia, then Eastern Georgia, then Santee, SC, then Eastern Georgia again. I followed that NAM model pink streak around like I was a starving dog on a Sarah McLachlan commercial and it was the most juicy bone ever concocted.
I finally had to find some logic within myself and therefore gave up the ultimate chase of the hot pink wild winter experience, because the predictions of ice first and widespread power outages were getting too intense, and that pink herring kept moving north on me.
(I even had one rental house owner agree to rent me their house, then call me back and say they couldn’t with a good conscience because they just knew it would lose power.)
So finally, my plans landed back in South Alabama near where I started. I rented an adorable little cottage on a lake for the kids and I, and we will have our snowy utopia.
So by the time this post publishes, I’ll be on the road for a grand SnowChase, hoping to get out in front of the travel issues. It may or may not snow where it’s supposed to, I may or may not continue my trend of feeling vivacious, I may or may not get sick again, Noah may or may not even like snow (he seems like the type that would refuse to touch or walk in it), I may or may not be driven insane by a decent drive with two kids and no assisting adult, and I may or may not have internet or cell phone service when we arrive.
But I must go.
And I must adventure.
There is no other choice.
To Lunacy – and beyond.
Until I blog again, follow along with our absurd journey on Twitter and Instagram. Assuming I can find a cell signal.
Sounds marvelous! I hope you have a great time! We are holding our breath, and saying a prayer for at least an inch or two. (That sounded so sad as I read it back to myself! but we are!!! because it never snows here.) My father is in Columbia SC, and I seriously begged my husband to let us drive down and stay there with the kids. It seems they are going to get more snow.
Did you get any? I hope y’all did, too! If not, it seems like there’s another wave of potential snow coming every few days right now!
We did! About 2 inches or so. It stayed on the ground 24 hours. My husband is a school teacher and school was cancelled. We all stayed home and made a huge bonfire in the yard and ate an undisclosed amount of Jumbo Marshmallows and hot chocolate. Then I passed out on the couch while the kids watched Lighting McQueen for the 17,842nd time.
Did you get more this week? It seems like you should’ve, but I could have my geography wrong.
Well, up here in PA we’ve got about 7 inches of snow and with the wind chill it’s about -20 :) I hope you find some snow!!
P.S. Loved this little gem “I followed that NAM model pink streak around like I was a starving dog on a Sarah McLachlan commercial and it was the most juicy bone ever concocted.”
Thanks for appreciating that line. I figured I’d offend someone out there, but I don’t think I have too many PETA readers. ;-)
That is so what I wanted to do as well, but I will be stuck at work. Good luck!!
You didn’t know how literal this comment would be, did you?
Hope you didn’t *really* get stuck at work!
Here in Wisconsin, I haven’t seen green grass since mid-December. However, we can’t play in the snow because it is currently -32 with the wind chill. Schools have had 4 snow days in January.
I hope you have fun!
Yeah….that’s not the kind of snow I want. Ever. We like our snow in barely-below-freezing weather!
I am a little jealous. Wish I could pack up and go on a snow chase. Have fun!
Brother Joe from Starkville, MS says NC is forecast to get a foot of snow!! Here in the FL panhandle schools are closed for 2 days (I’m a teacher.). I’m lying in bed, all cozy and warm, with nary a flake in sight. I, too, am a snow nut and hope the weatherman is right. We need to ride around looking for Joe Cantore! Or maybe not….his track record is a little iffy…..
Y’all did get some snow, didn’t you? Or at least ice…Hope so!
You are a good mommy! Sweet the lengths you went to to have them experience snow. I will never be letting my kids read your blog!
Good luck! We had about four inches of snow this past Saturday, and it was four inches too much for my taste–I’m not a fan. But I totally understand how magical it is for you guys, since you only rarely get to see it. I hope you, Ali, and Noah fully enjoy your winter wonderland. :)
Exciting! If you want snow, you are welcome to some of ours. Our yard is full and will be for another 3 months probably. Glad to hear you are feeling better!
I wish we could send you some of ours as well. We are running out of places to put it! I’m from Michigan in the Grand Rapids area. I read we’ve gotten over 7o inches this winter so far, so If you want a guaranteed snowy experience, pay us a visit!
Good heavens that IS a lot of snow!! It’s hard to imagine…
That’s so fun! I hope you get lots of snow at your cottage. Here (near Charlotte, NC) we have the perfect gray skies, but no snow yet. My aunt in Atlanta just sent me a picture of her neighborhood completely covered though, so I hope it’s coming this way!
Just practising for your someday visit to snowy Ottawa, right? Winterlude starts this weekend (ice slides!) and I am very excited. It isn’t really winter without snow! I hope you find lots and lots!
Sounds like you’re about to get the ‘Mom of the year’ award from at least one of your kids! :) How fun!!
I know you are all thinking that this sounds so romantic/dreamy, and snow storms CAN be , but right now I ‘m just praying that Rachel and those two little ones are somewhere safe, warm , with food and water and a toilet , and near other people who can be of assistance. You just can not drive off into a major snow storm, people. . They are Dangerous.. ( I nearly choked on my soda when I read her plans….)
We’re fine and enjoying the snow! I’ll write an update soon. We are actually more secure than if we’d stayed home, ironically enough.
Pray for others in our state and Georgia though – there are many who were not so fortunate, as the storm surprised everyone by moving north.
THANK YOU for letting us all know that you’re okay!! You have NO IDEA how much I was fretting over you guys!