by Amy McGarry
Every year, about mid-November, when you start to see naked trees and feel that certain something in the air, do you say to yourself, “Man, I can’t wait for it to snow”? I answer “yes”! I absolutely love it. I love how beautiful the world looks all awash in white. I even love the necessary chill in the air that accompanies it. And nothing beats the sweet, soft sound of snow falling on a quiet Sunday morning.
As a teacher, I have the added bonus of a big snowfall causing a snow day, which is a day off work for me. If there’s one thing that I need in my life, it’s more snow days.
As many of us know, it’s not uncommon to have measurable snow in Spokane by mid-November. In fact, snowfall typically first occurs in Spokane around November 13th, with the average first trace of snow as early as October 27th. I love snow, but I’m never dreaming of a white Halloween. But a white Thanksgiving? Bring it on! Around Spokane, that’s a definite possibility.
Crazy as it sounds, not everyone loves the snow as much as I do. Recently, I was sitting in the break room at work with one of my colleagues, making small talk about the weather. My colleague, who is originally from a more tropical climate, told me she wasn’t looking forward to snow. I bit my tongue, but if I hadn’t, I would have replied, “Oh, honey, you live in the wrong town if you are not a fan of the snow.”
In my 20s, when I was somewhat of a vagabond, traveling about, looking for myself, I landed in San Diego. California beach life with its surfing and laid-back attitude was something I’d only seen on TV and in movies. I fell in love with the sunshine, the beach and the vibe, and decided to stay. Three years later I was packing up my car again and heading back to Spokane. I missed the seasons. I missed the snow. And anyway, I still hadn’t found myself.
Even among adults who say they like snow, there’s often a mixed feeling. How often have you heard someone say, “I love the snow, I just don’t like to drive in it”?
Me with my first true love.
I suppose that’s a healthy fear, if I think about it. But like many healthy fears, as well as common sense, it’s something I can be short on. Maybe it’s because I learned to drive in the snow. Having a November birthday, I got my driver’s license just as winter was arriving in Spokane. If I wanted to drive, which I desperately did, I would be in the snow. As a fearless adolescent, a little snow (or a lot of snow) never deterred me.
I’ve had more than my fair share of car accidents and fender benders, but I’ve never once had an accident driving in the snow. (Knocking on wood long and hard, maybe all day and tomorrow, too.) I credit my driver’s ed teacher for instilling in me the strategies for smart snow driving. And I credit my parents for always ensuring my car was equipped with good snow tires.
While I’ve never had an accident on snow-covered roads, I did get stuck in high snow a couple of times in 2008 when Spokane roads were covered in a lot of snow. With my notorious poor judgment, I was driving a low-riding Honda Prelude. The craziest part of my getting the Prelude stuck in high snow is that the second time it happened, it was in the month of June! I kid you not.
You might recall that, until the winter of 2008-2009 (Snowpocalypse), the winter of 2007-2008 was one of the snowiest on record, with 92.6 inches. That was also the longest-lasting winter ever, with snow falling on June 10th. Spokane received just short of an inch that day, so I’m not sure why I got stuck. Probably just got too close to a snowbank in the parking lot. I don’t have the best depth perception. Regardless, I always remember the lyrics to a song by the late, great Prince. This beautiful but sad ballad is called “Sometimes It Snows in April.” And May. And, apparently, June as well.
Maybe getting stuck in the snow is what scares people about driving in it. But I see getting stuck in high snow as more of an adventure than a danger. Nobody gets hurt. The car doesn’t get very damaged. And I always managed to get unstuck in no time at all with a little help from my friends or the kindness of strangers.
So, I have no qualms about driving in the snow. But what I really want is an excuse to stay home. I love a snow day as much as the kids do.
With one exception. The very first snow day I remember, when I was in the first grade, was not a joyful occasion for me. I had been invited to a birthday party for my classmate Stephanie that day. When I learned school was canceled due to the snow, I cried hard and loudly, because the birthday party was also canceled. To pour salt in the wound, my mom told Stephanie’s mom that I had “bawled like a baby” about the canceled party. Stephanie’s mom told Stephanie that I had bawled like a baby about the canceled party. When we returned to school Stephanie told all our friends at school that I had bawled like a baby about the canceled party. Then they all mocked me and called me a crybaby. Worst snow day ever.
The next memorable snow days would make up for it in spades. This was the winter of 1978-1979 when I was in the 4th grade. At the time, I was living 15 miles outside Ritzville near a railroad junction, along with several other families who worked for the Union Pacific or Milwaukee railroads. That winter, it wasn’t the amount of snowfall, it was the huge drifts caused by the wind blowing at the same time that the snow fell.
The drive out of what was then called Marengo Junction takes you up a long, steep hill with high banks of wheat fields hugging each side of the road. The winter of ’78-’79 dropped enough snow with strong enough winds to create snowdrifts four feet and higher, blocking all passage in and out of Marengo. We were literally snowed in. Talk about adventures!
I did some research and found no official records about our experience getting snowed in that winter. However, one personal account from the general area of interior Washington claims schools and universities were closed for three days. I know we were snowed in long enough to be running low on food because a neighbor offered to take their four-wheel-drive truck on a back road into town and buy groceries for everyone living in Marengo. I never knew there was a back road into town, so it must not have been an attractive option under better driving conditions.
I’m sure I enjoyed other snow days throughout the rest of my young life, but nothing compares to the winter of 2008-2009 in Spokane. This was the snowiest season on record with the cumulative snowfall reaching 132.6 inches by December 31, 2008, and a total of 186.1 inches for the entire winter. We remember the snowstorm fondly dubbed Snowpocalypse that dumped nearly two feet of snow in 24 hours and caused major disruptions. Wisely, I had gotten rid of the low-riding Prelude and was driving a more sensible and reliable vehicle for winter.
Snowpocalypse was an especially exciting time in the trajectory of my life because it happened to coincide with my new husband moving to Spokane from Morocco, where we had married earlier that year. He arrived in Spokane in November of 2008, having never experienced any snow at all. Fortunately, he has the same adventurous character as I when it comes to snow, and he seemed to find the weather exciting. He even jumped right in to shovel the driveway for my elderly parents. I was conveniently pregnant, so I had an out from shoveling.
We were slated to move into our new apartment just as Snowpocalypse descended. Talk about an adventure. We went ahead with the move despite the high piles of snow everywhere. It didn’t faze us. No amount of snow could interfere with the joy of starting our married life together and preparing for the birth of our daughter. Plus, moving trucks handle really well in the snow. I’m pretty sure I let my husband believe this was normal winter weather for Spokane.
To my disappointment, Spokane hasn’t seen that much snow since. But one can always hope. Unfortunately, the forecast for this winter is disappointing. To me.
For the record, if by now you are thinking that since I love snow so much, I am the one who should be moving to where there is more, let me clarify. I’m fickle. Just like the sunny, warm days in San Diego got old, a couple of months of good snow on the ground is quite enough to satisfy me for the year. I’m always delighted when winter changes to spring, and I don’t yearn to see snow again until the following November or December. I’m also impatient. So, for now, I say, let it snow!
Amy McGarry grew up in Spokane Valley, Washington. After a 20 year hiatus, she moved back to Spokane Valley where she lives with her husband, daughter and two cats. She is the author of I am Farang: Adventures of a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand, available on Amazon.com, Auntie’s Bookstore, and Barnes and Noble.