Til the Next Time

“Well, are we going to chance it and go, or what? It’s your birthday so you decide. We can always re-book you know. Your call. If you don’t want to drive, I get it. OK?”

Stacey stopped talking for a moment giving me a chance to jump in. “I don’t know what to say. There is a weather statement issued for tonight and we have no idea what the roads are going to be like tomorrow.”  

“So…..?” Up came the eyebrows with the hands close behind. “It’s time you got over this fear of yours.”

I shrugged, closed my eyes and sighed. I was so looking forward to this weekend which had been a birthday present from Stacey and my husband Paul. An extravagant birthday gift for my 40th. A weekend away at a spa retreat with my best friend. Paul staying home with the kids. No work brought home covering the kitchen table. No cooking…..no dishes….no juggling the kids all over the country side. A well earned retreat if I don’t say so myself. Work has been a nightmare lately with year end fast approaching and to get away and re-charge would be huge.

I have never been for a massage before in my life, little own a retreat for a whole weekend. Two whole days? and now a weather statement? What are the chances! And did I mention I hate driving!

“Well, let’s just get packed I guess, and see what happens by morning. Hopefully, all will be good. But if the roads are too bad I’m not doing it. If we can’t get there we can’t get there. I’m sure they’ll understand. We won’t be the only no shows.” 

“The weather man has been wrong before. Let’s hope he’s wrong again and the snow will miss us.” Stacey countered.

I was a real nervous nelly when it came to driving the malahat never mind in a blizzard. If only Stacey….oh, but no, she couldn’t drive. Her car wasn’t equipped with winter tires, but her driving was so much better than mine. It’s been years since I ventured that drive. It could be an hour and a half of pure hell. I tried to push these negative thoughts aside and focus on Stacey standing in front of me with her hands on her hips waiting for me to move.

“Okay, then. Let’s do this!” I made up my mind. Trepidation aside for the moment anyway, I sounded cheerful and even offered up a bright smile. “Yes, let’s do this,” I repeated.

My overnight bag was open on the bed and I started folding undies and pyjamas and stuffing them in. I walked in to the bathroom and pulled out my makeup bag and toiletries that I would be taking, but for now left them on the sink until morning. I would throw them in last thing.

Stacey stood watching me and I could tell she was itching to say something.

“What?” I asked.

“Well, maybe we should stock the car with a few extras, you know, just in case..”

“In case, what? That we get stuck in our car, in a storm?” I was being sarcastic, but not really. I waited a minute before adding. “Okay, that’s a good idea. Let’s grab a flashlight, maybe a blanket or two, some snacks and water. What else?”

“I don’t know. You look like you’ve got everything under control. Maybe I’ll take off. I better get home and get myself ready. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page. Call me later. I can always come back if you need something.”

“No. It’s all good. I’ll finish here and then load the car up. I’ll get the kids to help. They’ll love packing an emergency kit…..for their mother.” I laughed as I pictured them rolling their eyes.

I turned the local news on at 6 as we sat down in front to the TV. One night a week we ate in front of the TV and tonight seemed as good as any.

“The news?” both my kids piped up in unison. “That’s not a TV night?”

“I just want to see the weather report and then we can change the channel.” I explained. “And then, guess what, you can watch whatever you want all weekend because I won’t be here..” I added with a chuckle.

“Well, you might not even be going.” Sarah reminded me.

“Well, let’s hope I do.” I concentrated on the volume button on the remote.

Yvonne Schall was speaking. “Well, it looks like the weather statement has been lifted for some parts of the island as the storm has shifted and it looks like it is going to miss us. We still expect some rain overnight and into the early hours of tomorrow, but the winds and snow forecast earlier have shifted according to the latest charts. We are still tracking the storm and will give you updates at the 11 o’clock hour.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I would sleep tonight.

I was excited the next morning as I pulled into Stacey’s driveway. It was raining steadily and had been all night, but it was just getting light out and there was no wind to speak of. It could be worse…..so much worse. I honked the horn just as Stacey opened the door and put up her umbrella. She must have been watching.  She sprinted across the driveway and rain sprinkled into the front as she opened the door and fiddled to collapse her umbrella. We hugged a wet ‘good morning’. I squeezed her hand before putting the car in reverse to back out.

Our adventure was about to begin. I was filled with anticipation and I could tell Stacey was too. We didn’t even have to talk about it. We just knew each other so well.

This euphoria feeling was short lived and faded and was gone as soon as we headed south onto the highway and the rain became a torrential downpour, literally bouncing off the pavement. My windshield wipers were on high and couldn’t keep up. I slowed to 80 because 90 seemed way too fast for this girl in these conditions and on top of that I couldn’t see much in front of me. Trucks passed and my car shuddered and shifted sideways from their speed as their tires splashed my windshield momentarily blinding me. I could see tail lights from the car in front of me when it suddenly hydroplaned and righted itself. I felt panicky and gripped the wheel with both hands clenched. I couldn’t speak. I don’t think I was breathing. I was so scared. I couldn’t stop, there was no place to stop. It was safer to just keep moving at a steady pace. A logging truck sped past and honked. I jumped and bit my tongue. That hurt! Am I the only one on the road that is scared? I regretted now that I had listened to the weather report. It wasn’t a storm to them, but it was to me. It was my personal storm.  

“You’re doing great, Jenny.” Stacey whispered. The encouragement helped and her presence wasI comforting, but I didn’t ease up one bit. My whole body was tense and I was fraught with fear. I felt tears running down my cheeks. I left them there but I was determined to see this through.

Surprisingly, the miles slipped by in a blur and I noticed condos and signs and lights. 

“We’re almost there. Turn left at the next light and then it’s just a few more miles I think.” Stacey broke in.  “There’s the turn.”  

I didn’t mean to slam on the brakes, but we stopped with a sudden jerk and I opened the door and jumped out. I lifted my face to the sky and gulped down some breaths. Thank you, thank you, thank you was all I could muster. The pelting rain soaked me in seconds. I looked down at my hands, clenched and unclenched them. The shaking stopped. 

We dripped to our room with a few moments to spare. I immediately went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror and hardly recognized myself. Black mascara and tense lines etched my face and my hair was a saturated mop. I looked like a storm. I turned to Stacey and we both laughed.  

“We look a little worse for wear, don’t we?” I wiped my hands on the front of my coat. “I am so glad that’s over. Come on, let’s get out of here.” 

She nodded.  I followed her down the hall and wondered if I should mention that I wasn’t driving home til probably’Spring’.