The crunch under my feet could only be described as that of fresh fallen snow. I saw the white blanket of death outside my window in the early morning hours, but felt confident enough to get into my car and start my commute to work. The sky was still dark, providing just enough light to reflect off the smooth, unscathed snow.
I slowly backed my two wheel drive vehicle out of my driveway with vigilance, quietly praying that I didn’t glissade into a ditch. The first slip of the wheels should have been enough for me to turn around and crawl back into bed, surely it was still warm with two lazy felines laying atop the blankets.
The first hill out of my driveway caused my wheels to spin, but my car couldn’t be bothered to project forward. Shit. I don’t dare quit yet, I haven’t made it to the main roads and surely they have more traction. Wrong. Out of the hood I come and the moment of truth is staring me in the face like a creature without eyelids. This blink-less stare off between me and the while icy roads lasts much longer than it should have.
I grip my steering wheel with a potent force strong enough to crush steel with my bare hands. The fear building inside my soul can only be expressed properly though interpretive dance, where my arms flail in the air like one of those blow up tube men shown at car sales.
My breaks don’t work the way they were designed to as I make my way down the hill, but I slowly pump them anyway in an attempt to defy the odds. As a child I would often defy the rules of life and this is something I’ve carried into my adulthood. I make it to the bottom of the hill, but not without my life flashing before my eyes in a horrifyingly detailed way.
“I haven’t hit the summit of Machu Picchu yet, I haven’t had any cookies today, OH THE HORROR I haven’t met Tom Hiddleston!” Snow capped trees surround me as I try to find the beauty in the adventure of driving my “not made for snow” vehicle further and further from the safe confines of my house.
Photo from a hike last week, not from my drive. My drive was 5x this much snow.
Suddenly a thought pops into my head. “WHAT IF, I actually listen to my gut today. WHAT IF I go back home?” Will the world stop turning? Will I sink to the fiery depths of hell? Will I loose all my hair? Oh wait, that already happened.
I fought against my “you can’t NOT go to work” mindset and made the second best decision of the morning. I turned around and went back home. The first best decision was to make a giant bowl of oatmeal with a side of delicious coffee. Enjoyed while gazing at the white world around me.
The final test was getting up the large hill I managed to get down. A woman stands to my left shoveling her driveway and I yell at her to “STAND BACK” as if she can hear me through the walls of my car. Heaven forbid I loose control of my car and run into her going 5MPH. I make it. Back in my neighborhood my journey is almost over.
I can almost hear the angels singing as they welcome me back home, but not before I try and fail three times to get into my driveway. My driveway with a mere 5 degree angle. The fourth time was the charm. I walk through the door, drop my jacket to the floor, declare my presence to my fur children and breath a sigh of relief. I made it.
No work means lunch at home!
In all reality I can be quite dramatic, but driving in the snow terrifies me almost more than the thought of what might lurk under my bed. I’ve now officially begun my search for an AWD vehicle, if only I can overcome the separation anxiety for my current car.
Q: Do you like driving in the snow?
Blissfulbritt 
71 thoughts on “The First Snow”
danaelizabethx
going back home was a wise plan for sure!! 🙂 snuggle w/ those fur babies!!
Brittany
I agree!! 🙂
rootchopper
You did the right thing. Glissade is new to me. Maybe if you just get an ice axe for the rear bumper you’ll be okay. I grew up driving in the snow and loved it. Of course, up north we had snow tires. Around DC, nobody does and everybody freaks out at the mention of the S word. It doesn’t snow or freeze enough to warrant me shelling out $180+ for studded bike tires. So I drive or telework.
At least the snow is pretty. It’s a reminder to back off the life express and take it easy for a few days.
Brittany
I like your last sentence, so true! Great reminder.
Jimmy
Are you SURE you want an AWD vehicle? You might never have another legitimate reason to take a snow day from work!!
Brittany
This is true, the pros and cons are so real.
Angie
Nooo way! I think you made the right call by staying home. I do enjoy stay-at-home snow days, though! When we used to live in Issaquah, I used to love snow days. I could never make it in to work in downtown. The hills are horrendous and scary to drive on in Issaquah!
On a different note, I really enjoyed your writing (storytelling) on this post. You are a natural when it comes to writing.
Brittany
Thank you!!! It was fun to write. The Seattle area roads are terrible!
geezer94
Excellent post .. thanks for sharing.
g
(I put pork sausage in my oatmeal … but then I am an Old Guy who cannot run)
g
Brittany
Oh my! That’s a new one to me, but I’m sure it’s tasty. 🙂
Josie @ Literature Mistress
Glad you made it back in one piece!
…does anyone LIKE driving in snow? I hate driving in cold weather because my car’s isolation is shitty and all the moisture in the car makes my windows steam up, making it impossible for me to see a thing unless I turn the heating way up, which makes me drowsy + my eyes start hurting after a while, because obviously slippery roads + horrible visibility = must.not.blink!!!
Brittany
Yassss the drowsy heat! The worst!
Jessica
Best decision. I HATE driving in the snow and need to follow your cues a bit more to stay home when it isn’t safe!
Brittany
You surely get more snow than I do too, stay safe!
kathy @ more coffee, less talky
oh, i never go out when it’s snowing bad or there’s a lot of snow because people turn into morons and forget that they live in canada. i work from home and stay safe.
Brittany
You are one smart lady. I didn’t have my stuff to work from home, but in the future I shall!
tiltedwhirled
I feel the same about driving in the snow
Brittany
So sketch!
Heather Patton at Afternoon Glow
In Ohio, driving in that much snow is a piece of cake, but that’s because a) They don’t have any hills to speak of and b) They do a MUCH better job of clearing roads there
Glad to hear you listened to your gut and stayed home. It’s better to take a day off than wreck your car and have to take a lot longer!
Brittany
Truth! The hills here (more so near you) are crazy!
Heather Patton at Afternoon Glow
That’s why I’m glad the snow here didn’t last long!
shopgirlanonymous
does anyone like driving in the snow. Though I know I especially dislike. I wasn’t raised around so thus, I don’t really understand the rules when the roads are icy. So I just stay at home. 🙂
Brittany
You are smart! Some kids out there like it, they’re crazy!
Claudia
I used to live in the country and loved to drive in the snow. Icy roads did not scare me. Until I had an accident that could have been really, really bad. From that day on I had a lot more respect for snow and ice (and the speed of a car).
While I had to drive home in the snow last Thursday, I thought about how much I hate sliding and fishtailing. But luckily, this year I will hopefully move somewhere where snow does not happen.
Brittany
You wild woman, glad your accident wasn’t worse, and that you now take it easy! 🙂
matosm32
Awww I loved seeing that you tagged Camry. My first car was a 97′ Camry and it holds such a special place in my heart. That car definitely wasn’t good in the snow, but it was fun doing donuts in the snow!
I love the way you write by the way! Cute post, glad you were safe!
Brittany
HA! I adore my Camry, it’s going to be so hard to let go. Thank you for the comment. 🙂
matosm32
I let go of mine with over 240,000 miles on it. Cameron the Camry was very good to me!
Brittany
I just hit 100k last month. It was a celebration. 😝
Kadee Cramer
omg! Too funny! I grew up in rural Oklahoma where even if you are lucky enough to figure out how to get out of your driveway the road isn’t much better because there is no one to plow it. I never really learned how to drive in it so I’m still scared. When we moved to Alaska I outright refused to drive from October to April. So I feel your pain. :p
Brittany
I like your style, I would refuse too!
Rachael @ Catch Me If You Can
i feel like i just read a mini thriller novella! lol, but seriously driving in those conditions is sheer terror. i had to drive a hyundai elantra on iced over roads for 2 hours and thought i was going to have a panic attack the whole way. get you a AWD car STAT
Brittany
Ha! Omg two hours! Deathhhh!
Ellie
Oh girl I feel you! I am walking to work because I hate driving in the snow and would rather be a bit cold for a mile than drive it. I’m actually good at driving in the snow (from practice driving to races at 4AM in blizzards) but I don’t like it. Also, you have to scrap off your car to drive there, and then again to drive home. No thanks!
…I’m sure once the temperature dips below singles or I get caught in a blizzard I will change my mind =P
Brittany
I wish I could walk to work, that’s a great option!
Debra
I used to live in Canada where there was plenty of snow. I did not mind driving in the snow, but freezing drizzle is something I am really scared of. I live in California now, so not an issue now. 😊
Brittany
Ha! Not much snow in most parts of California! 👍🏻
Kayse
I haaaate snow driving, which makes living in MN unpleasant many days. I got stuck once already this year. Haaaaaaate it.
Brittany
Oh man, noooo.
Rach @ This Italian Family
Oh girl, driving in the snow or on ice is terrifying to me! Glad you are safe!
Brittany
It was awful HAHAHA.
Amy
Girl, I bet you already know my answer to your question about driving in the snow… My hate for snow is as real as the terror you felt driving in it. Snow is ONLY acceptable in the movies, in my {very humble} opinion!! 😉 SO glad you decided to head back home! Your life and safety is worth WAY more than a day’s work! ❤️
Brittany
Hahaha yassss. It melted quick thank goodness!
gemkfdesigns
Great detail, liking the story!
Brittany
Hey, thanks!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
Staying home when it’s freezing outside is never a bad idea. Especially when it involves hot oats and warm cats 🙂 And I actually don’t really mind driving in the snow, but that’s probably because we have snow on the ground here for 6 months out of the year so I just kind of got used to it. Otherwise I’d never be able to leave my house in the winter 😆
Brittany
Yasss, you have it so much worse. Haha!
An Unrefined Vegan
Yikes! I remember similar white-knuckled drives. Reminding myself to pump the brakes and turn into the slide (which felt completely counterintuitive). I also remember doing unintentional 360s once or twice. Such a scary and helpless feeling. You made the correct call. Now. Get the ‘baru. Your current car will understand (it might also be scared s**tless to drive in the snow! You’ll be doing it a favor!)
Brittany
Hahaha so much truth!
Allie Zottola
“Heaven forbid I loose control of my car and run into her going 5MPH.” –> Hahaha.
I really dislike driving in the snow as well. It gets pretty bad here in Pittsburgh. I have a truck with 4 wheel drive, but it doesn’t do anything on ice. I am inspired by your courage to just turn around. I need to remember that this winter when I try to act brave and drive in dangerous weather!
Brittany
You definitely have it worse! I don’t know what’s changed in me, but some things just aren’t worth the stress!
P
So glad you went back home safe and sound! That bowl of oatmeal looks incredibly comforting. And I can just imagine your furry little blanker warmers lol
Brittany
Oh man, I’m dreaming of another bowl!
dave379
The couple of times that my brakes didn’t worked and I was sliding in the snow towards the car in front me = the quickest my heart has gotten to its near maximum beating. Luckily the 5-10 mph impact was averted each time but the beat rate remained for a while after. Glad you made it back! I’ll take running in the snow over driving 🙂
Brittany
That heart rate would have lasted for hours.
anintroverttalks
This gave me a good chuckle 😀 I can definitely relate to the roller coaster of emotions that one experiences while attempting to make it to work in the snow!
Brittany
Haha roller coaster is right!
itpainsmeblog
I did the same thing yesterday; blizzard here in the GTA. I had an appt., halfway there I said screw it and turned around to go home.
Brittany
Good for you!!! I fully support you. Haha.
Christina Does It All
Hahaha this does sound terrifying but it was so amusing to read. From the comfort of my bed in snow-less Texas. 😉 I love that you went back home and made an AMAZING looking lunch. Good call, friend. Good call.
Brittany
Yasss good call indeed!
stateeats
Hate driving in the snow and anyone who says they like it is either insane or just plain oblivious to the dangers. Wait, I take it back, I like driving in the snow if there is absolutely no other cars , light poles or other obstacles in the way (bracing for more snow tonight here) –Kat
Brittany
No other cars – that’s the key ha!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
This was such an enjoyable post to read despite your terror. I could picture the scene vividly, you word wordsmith you. Wise decision to return home and snuggle the kitties and the coffee.
Get a Subaru. They’re great in the snow.
Brittany
Thank you, I wanted to be more wordy on this one. 😝
Josh dV
I do not like driving in the snow and I am quite adept at it after all these years.
The first snowfall is a magical, beautiful thing….followed quickly by the second and third snowfalls mostly annoying and worrisome things that after time turn the beautiful magical first snow into large piles of crusty hard exhaust brown shit.
I am so happy you made it home safe and more-so that you listened to yourself.
Brittany
I’m glad I listened too, it was a nice day at home! 🙂
santha81
I love this!!!! But I have never known the joys of snow, living in the sunshine state
Brittany
It’s….intense. Haha.
Heather
Never driven in the snow and think it would be horrible. However, I am a master at driving in the pouring rain. Seems like you made the right decision to go back home… aaaaaaand to eat that lovely bowl of oats and beautiful plate of veg!
Brittany
Yassss. It was a good day haha.