Well, Chicago...I feel like I should apologize. Since I've moved here there have been two tornado touch downs, hurricane warnings and a blizzard, aka "The Storm of the Century". I think my bad luck may have followed me here. Sorry about that.
I think most people were assuming that this storm was all hype no bite....but they were wrong. This one was a doozie. Fortunately, I was able to go home early on Tuesday when the storm began to set in, in full force. Luckily, I was able to find a parking spot. A tree branch broke off and fell to the side of me as I rushed into safety. I made some hot cocoa to warm me up while the blizzard descended.
I was watching a movie when there was a knock at my door. It was my upstairs neighbor and his girlfriend with a broom and some rags. They asked me if I happened to hear a loud banging (at first I was thinking...I didn't think my movie was up that loud, how awkward). As they continued to describe the noise I realized they were referring to the broken vents outside my window. Something has come loose in those and when it is really windy, they are so loud, it can be quite maddening. Well, this proved to be true, because my neighbor and his gf had decided to come ask if they could hang out my window in an attempt to fix it. I mean, what better time than during a blizzard right? Sure...come on in...break my screens....hang out my window let the blizzard in. It's nice to meet you too. They weren't successful in fixing the sound....which isn't terribly surprising, but it was a valiant effort. I was pretty scared for their lives to be honest....but had it worked...it would've have been pretty amazing.
While we were all congregated around the window, we noticed lightning? Seriously, since when do snow and lightning coexist? Well the windows got shut up tight and then the sirens began and continued through the night. I didn't understand why until the next morning.
I feel bad, I wish I had known. Maybe I would've been able to help someone, but just a block away from me on Lake shore Drive, over 1,500 cars had been stranded because a bus had jackknifed in the snow. They couldn't see where they were going and had to abandon their cars to find safety ultimately. I didn't read of any casualties, I pray that that is accurate. What a horrible night....and to think I could have so easily been one of the stranded motorist had I not been able to go home early. I drive Lake shore pretty much daily...and nightly.
I was scheduled for a temp assignment the next day. It is with a company that I have been working with for a month, so fortunately, the office manager is familiar with me. She cared enough about my safety to let me stay home for the morning. She lives near the office and had walked there and was single handedly manning the fort. My car had become encased by snow...so driving wasn't an option. In the afternoon, I braved the storm and head out to try my luck on public transit. The city was dead. It was so crazy, like I was in some scary movie, like "I am Legend". I got on the bus and we just sat at the stop for twenty minutes. Nobody joined us....the whole ride. I went all the way across the city in my private bus along Halsted and then walked the rest of the way to the office.
Work, went fine and the storm let up. When I began my trek home I walked along the streets in darkness. The power had gone out. The streets were abandoned and covered in snow. It was eerie to say the least. I walked to the bus stop to catch that same bus that had brought me in...but it never came. I began walking in search of a train stop and finally found one. At this point my boots had been soaked through and my feet were beginning to lose feeling. I waited for what seemed like an eternity with a few strangers for the train.
Finally, I made it to the Addison stop and then had to wade through knee deep snow for about 12 blocks back to my little studio. I tweaked my knee...but kept walking through the pain. I took off my boots as soon as I entered the building and put my feet in the tub full of luke warm water nearly as soon as I walked in. As my feet regained feeling and circulation it hurt so bad I cried a little....but then I changed into some pj's, made some hot cocoa and left the storm behind me.
I survived the Chicago Blizzard of 2011....but I still can't get my car out.
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