02 Nov Halloween Blizzard of 1991…my best memory!
“What is your best memory of the Halloween Blizzard of 1991?” was a question posed by one of my friends on Twitter yesterday. Hard to believe it was 20 years ago. The East coast experienced a similar blizzard this year and the news footage really brought back the memories.
It started to snow on Halloween night when kids were still out Trick-or-Treating, and continued to snow and snow and snow all the next day.
I was really fortunate my In-laws were staying with us for a visit because my Father-in-law made it his mission to keep the driveway to our home as clear as possible. We didn’t own a snowblower, amazingly he kept it clear just shoveling by hand. It was an all day job and we were so thankful for his efforts. It was the due date for our second child and sure enough, we headed to the hospital about 10pm.
Looking back, I think he was hoping to make his entrance into this world in a Jeep!
The drive would normally have taken 20 minutes but in the deep snow, it was nearly 2 hours. I vividly remember how we slowly slid off the ramp trying to get onto 35W and my husband managed to coax our old black Jeep back onto the road. The possibility of being stuck in our Jeep by the side of the road was a constant worry. Stick shift cars are tough to drive in the snow, my husband is a great driver and this trip required all his skills.
We arrived at the hospital safely, just in time. The medical staff had been on duty for a 24+ hours since their colleagues were unable to make it through the snow to report for work. They were severely understaffed, we were not even checked in before the baby arrived. Amazingly the Nurses and Staff were making the best of a bad situation, their spirits were high and their professionalism showed. I think it might be those really tough stretches of weather that produce the ‘Minnesota Nice’ culture.
The Halloween Blizzard of 1991 holds lots of memories for all Minnesotans! If you are considering a move to Minnesota, don’t let the snow storm stories scare you!
Just be sure to buy a Jeep!
Happy Birthday Stefan!
