Stuck in the Snow!

This great graphic is from a victorian alphabet book. The letter for this picture is U for Umbrella "to keep off the snow." We have a bit of snow here in Michigan and a bit more to come today so a snow-blower might be more in order than an umbrella! Still, we are used to the snow.

I learned to drive at an early age when my dad took me out on the back roads in summer and let me handle his old work car! But my driving in snow began when I was sixteen and taking the driver training class required for getting a license. There were three of us girls in the car with our teacher Mr. Beeler. Slipping and sliding along the country roads while everyone else was in math or English class was just too much fun! We felt like we were on an adventure...and truly we were!

One such day, when it was my turn to drive, I decided to take the road that passed in front of my home. Once in the neighborhood, I spotted my brother, home from college, shoveling a path to the back alley.

"Let's go and see my brother," I said excitedly.

"Uh...Coralie...I don't think that's a good idea," Mr. Beeler gasped. "We're going to get stuck in the snow and you'll all be late for your classes!"

"We'll be fine! We've got snow tires on...remember?" And I was off, driving down that alley against Mr. Beeler's better judgement and right into a heavy drift of snow! No amount of spinning the wheels would get us moving again.

Were we girls alarmed? Not at all! It was a true adventure and all we could do was giggle and laugh and laugh some more. But poor Mr. Beeler was beside himself. Still, being the quiet kind man he was, he just couldn't get too upset with us. After all, we were usually pretty well behaved!

"Don't worry, Mr. Beeler," I told him. "I'll get my brother to shovel us out!" Which is exactly what I did and and, though I'm pretty sure all of us girls were wishing we'd be late for class, it didn't turn out that way. We were back on our way to school in time for our next classes.

But that day in the snow, stuck on fun, and having the best of times just enjoying life was a memory to long be held in our hearts. There are many a snow day when I recall the kindness and patience of our dear old teacher, now long gone. And how he allowed us such freedom to be who, in fact, we were. Such kindness never goes unnoticed or unlearned!

To see more RUBY TUESDAY participants, hosted by WORK OF THE POET, click HERE!

Have a great day everyone and enjoy all the beautiful shades of red today!