RiverBender Blog: Snowed In

Well, we were warned. But I didn’t listen, and now, I am officially snowed in.

When I saw the forecasts this past week, I was in disbelief. Surely we wouldn’t get that much snow, right? Surely 12–15 inches was a bit of an exaggeration? I decided to simply not believe the forecasts. I lived in ignorant bliss.

And then Saturday morning rolled around, and I woke up, looked in my fridge, did a double take outside, and realized I should have prepared better.

I’m not quite as panicked as others about the weather. In fact, I rarely check the weather at all, relying on a jacket to get me through most days until December rolls around and I switch to a heavier coat for a few months. I just kind of assume these layers will be enough.

And, generally, this approach works. I mean, it has to, because once I’m on the way to work, there’s no turning back for gloves or another hoodie. I step into the world every morning wholly unprepared, and then I just kind of suck it up until I return home at night.

But this weekend — snowmageddon — humbled me.

I did a frantic Saturday morning run to the grocery store. Not to panic-buy, but just to stock up on the groceries I would need for the week. No overthinking it. No overspending. No 2020-esque run on milk or bread or eggs or toilet paper.

But still, frantic, because the energy of the store was pure chaos. And, as the pearly gray clouds rolled in and settled overhead, I knew I was on a time limit before the snow started to fall.

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Fortunately, I got the basics I needed, and then I returned home and waited. And I didn’t have to wait long; the snow came even earlier than predicted and fell hard. An hour in, and the streets were already blanketed in white. I was shocked by how quickly the world transformed from a normal frigid day to a winter wonderland.

And then I made a rookie mistake. About three hours into the snowfall, when the parking lot of my apartment complex was completely covered, I decided to run the trash out before it got worse.

I pulled on a pair of old boots, knockoff Uggs I’ve had since high school that aren’t quite snow boots but do keep my feet warm. Unfortunately, because they are so old, the tread on the bottom is basically smooth.

I did not realize this until I was outside, slipping down the slope of the parking lot and then, totally foreseeably, on the ground, trash strewn around me.

So, that was humbling. I got to my feet and then had to make the equally harrowing journey back up the slope. By the time I made it back inside, my patience had worn thin, and I was bruising, cold and generally over the snow, no matter how pretty it looked.

Of course, jokes aside, I am very lucky: I didn’t have anywhere to be and I had a warm spot to stay. I was thoroughly snowed in, and instead of being inconvenienced or, worse, in danger, I was okay.

We have a list of warming locations in Madison County and more warming locations in St. Clair County, if you need it. There are a lot of organizations and libraries and city halls that work hard to keep our neighbors safe, whether you’re unhoused or have insufficient heating or whatever the situation might be.

But these days really show the vulnerabilities in our communities. I was able to get to the store and stay warm all weekend, but what about my elderly neighbor who can’t drive? What about the person down the street who had to get to work? What about those around us who don’t have enough food or heat?

The world is very scary right now. We need community. This weekend proved to me that we can’t do anything without each other. Check in on one another. Share your resources if you can. Volunteer where you’re able to.

And stay safe, Riverbend. The snow will melt soon, but we can take care of each other year-round.

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