STAY WARM, STAY SAFE, STAY PUT

Once upon a time — on a snowy day, I thought I had to get to work; some meeting had been scheduled or something. I slid down the driveway and crashed into a tree. It took two wreckers to get my car off the tree. In a way, I was really lucky. If that tree had not been there, I would have dived — hood-first — into the North Branch of Sycamore Creek. I caught a ride to work with one of the wrecker truck drivers. The meeting didn’t take place. I called a friend who lived downtown, walked to her place, and put up with her for the night. Or maybe she put up with me? Before I left the next morning, I stopped by the office and asked to have my name put on the wait-list for an “efficiency.” I should have known better than to try to drive in that mess! I should have called in, and asked to have my “regrets” conveyed to the meeting [that did not take place, anyway] attendees; I should have stayed home with a cup of cocoa. I should not have relied on the luck of tree location to survive my many failings in the driving-on-ice-and-snow department. To all my dearies — wherever you are tonight and tomorrow: please stay warm, stay safe, stay put.