First Snow

We moved to Yakima in June of 1991. In the ensuing months we were settling into new jobs, new schools, our new home, etc. We also were setting up new doctors, dentists, etc. for all of us. It was a very busy and exciting time. By October, things had somewhat quieted down but one thing still needed to be done. We were referred to an allergist in Seattle for Cece’s allergy issues and we needed to go there and get set up.

Since it was easier at that time for me to take time off from work (it had to be on a work day) I drove with Cece over Snoqualmie Pass-our first time- to Seattle. That was a wonderful trip on a partly sunny Fall day with a weak sun. Seeing the old Milwaukee trestles for the first time truly whetted my appetite for later exploring and I think I bored poor Cece with more Milwaukee Road history than she wanted to know.

A funny scene at the allergist’s office added comic relief to what was to become a traumatic drive home. When Cece was being questioned by the doc about her family history and whether any members of her family had allergies before, I chimed in with “Not that I know of.” To other questions about heart conditions and diabetes and the like, I also filled in my knowledge of my family history. I remember Cece giving me sort of a funny look but did not think anything more about it. As we left Seattle, on the way home, Cece asked why it was necessary to give all my family history and I went into long detail about how heredity carries over, etc. etc. Then she asked, “Well, how does that really affect me?” I began to launch into a rehash of the previous reasoning, when WHAM…it hit me! My family history has ZILCH to do with hers! I must have looked pretty funny because she began to laugh and said, “Yeah!” We both began to laugh uproariously then at my blundering forgetfulness. Sheesh!

Such lightheartedness was soon forgotten, however, as we proceeded further east into the approaches of Snoqualmie Pass. Night fell and it grew DARK and then snow began to fall…and fall…and fall…and fall. New to the area, of course we had no tire chains. Soon we had what seemed to us to be a full scale blizzard on our hands. It was so dark going over the un-inhabited portions of the Pass that it was hard to see the road, but I could follow the tracks of few the vehicles ahead. Soon we began to see cars stopped and stranded by the sides of the road. I got behind a semi truck and used him for a snow plow; the only time I have enjoyed being behind a semi! After crossing the Pass, on the way down to Cle Elum and Ellensburg, the road was even darker and now the wind had picked up blowing snow sideways. It was almost too hard to see.

Both of us were worried, to say the least, and even considered stopping for the night in Ellensburg. We probably should have because by now the cold was taking over and the windshield wipers were icing up and refusing to take the snow and ice off the windshield. I stopped twice on the grade from Eburg to Yakima to clean off the wipers and I could only do so by banging them against the window. The second time I caught a glimpse of a little frightened face peering out at me from the passenger seat. THAT was a helpless feeling I remember to this day.

By the grace of God, we somehow finally saw the welcoming lights of Selah from the top of South Umptanum Ridge. The snow stopped and the accumulation on the road lessened but did not go away entirely. We had snow all the way home…which never looked so good I can tell you! Come to find out it had snowed at Yakima also and everyone was worried about us.

Since that time one other instance of my forgetting and giving my family history for Cece has occurred. Slow learner! We never went over Snoqualmie again without being prepared, though. That first time was lesson enough!


9-13-2010