My turn on the Tilt a Whirl

What a fun Monday morning! Not only did I sleep in a little too late (I usually wake up at 5:30) due to daylight savings time, but I had a fun ride on the Tilt a Whirl!

No, I didn't stop at a carnival on my way to work. But I might as well have - I spun out on a road and ended up in a snow drift! What we had this weekend now apparently wasn't a blizzard, but it was enough to give me a scare this morning.

Our neighborhood streets were very clear, thanks to the very high taxes I pay for the service. We saw the snow plow in our neighborhood at least four times during the weekend. When we lived in the city of Columbus, we never saw a snow plow, and apparently that is part of the plan for snow removal. Anyway, the streets were good for driving, until I got into Columbus. I'm driving along one main road, in the left lane which was clear, and I merged into the right lane, which was still slushy. Instead of merging, however, I started to slide. And slide, and around and around I went. Where I would stop, no one knows! I ended up with my front end stuck in a snow pile on the side of the road, with my car perpendicular across the right hand lane of the road (on Morse Road, close to the intersection of Morse and Indianola). Luckily, no one was near me and I became a mere inconvenience for people to swear at as they went around me and headed to work.

I tried to get out of the snow pile, but I was good and stuck. And in a great panic. What was I going to do? I called my husband, who was home with our two kids (they cancelled school last night for some reason). I told him I was stuck - what can I do? I can't find my hazard lights? I don't know how to get out of this? I went on and on, rambling in a panic. My husband told me where the hazard lights were, and said he'd get the kids together and come get me out. As I was talking to him, a van pulled up in front of me and three guys got out. I told my husband I think help is here and said I'd call him back.

I got out of the car. One of the guys said, "Looks like you did a good job getting stuck." I agreed and looked at him helplessly. He said they would get me out and told me to get into the car. I had no idea how they were going to do it, but I obeyed.

The three good samaritans lifted my car out of the snow pile and pushed it back onto the road. Then they headed back to their van like it was just another day on the job. One of them looked back at me and I emphatically mouthed the words "THANK YOU!" and got on my way. He nodded.

I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for those men. I guess someone else might have helped or I could have called a tow truck or something. I wasn't sure my husband would have been able to help. He had trouble just getting my six year old motivated to come help me. When my husband told my six year old he had to get dressed so they could come help Mommy, he said, "Now? Why now? Can't we go later?" I guess he didn't comprehend the idea of Mommy's car stuck in the road during rush hour on Monday morning and Mommy in a terrible panic.

I know hardly anyone reads my blog but I'm still saying it - to all of you who help all us pathetic people who get stuck in the snow or who break down on the side of the road or otherwise need help - THANK YOU! It's not only that you help, but that you don't hesitate, and you don't expect anything from it. It was an awful feeling not knowing what do to and I am very grateful that these three men stopped to help.

I will also figure out what to do should it happen again, or at least, who to call if I get stuck! (Here's what not to do!)