The evening light began in a shade of eerie steel blue and then turned gray with snow. We switched on the four wheel drive and made our way in the blizzard to the airport. We had the wrong time for the flight, so we sat in the park and wait lot for an hour and a half, watching snow rush past in horizontal sheets. We conserved our resources and kept the truck off until it got too cold and I asked Richard to turn on the heat for a few minutes. No keys. Anywhere. We hadn’t left the truck, but they were simply not there. We got out of our seats, opened a door and searched every crevice with flashlights. Finally, after several minutes going through pockets outside, and just as I began my prayer, Richard was back. The keys had fallen down one leg of his snow pants. Salvation in wool socks up against the heating vents. We read our books in silence, every now and then one of us calling our traveler but not getting through.
Our precious traveler retrieved, we made it back to our house, but now 7 inches of snow covered our driveway. Richard cleared the driveway until past 11 pm. Courage in snow pants and an old parka. As I drifted off to sleep, the smoke alarm sounded. Dead battery. Dead tired parents. I got a few hours of sleep before waking at 4 to write to Daniel. It’s a small part of valor, but I claim it.
Today the demon storm shows its effects in the sunlight. Glittery diamonds in a shocking field of blue-white cast their reflection, brightening dim corners in the house and in my mind. Winter has worked its magic and we are friends again.