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Love begins in the middle of an ordinary tale.


Dec 11

The News from Lake Michigan

I think this post will be more fun if you imagine Garrison Keillor reading it out loud, PHC style.

Yesterday the temperature reached a high of 41* in Berrien Springs. The snow on the ground seemed like it wanted to rise up in celebration of the warmer weather, covering the landscape in a fuzzy white haze. Michigan looked like God had opened it up in photoshop and turned it into a watermark, draining it of color and distinct edges.

It even rained yesterday. I've been faithfully carrying my umbrella around in my backpack for weeks, even though the only precipitation we've had since October has been various forms of snow. As evening came, the temperatures dropped to the below freezing zone and the rain resumed its solid state. Sidewalks turned into long lanes of ice, causing young and old alike to adopt the nursing home shuffle, that cautious way of walking which anticipates the pain of the fall.

I had been spoiled by a day of warm weather, so I didn't leave much time to clear off my car this morning. It did appear to have a bit of snow on the windshield, but I thought I'd turn it on and warm it up while I brushed off the windows. I put my key into the lock and tried to open the door. Nothing. My car was frozen shut.

'93 Toyota Camrys are known for lousy door handles. If you find these cars in a junk yard, the door handles have always been stripped off. When I bought my car, the handle on the driver's side had been snapped off. Every time I opened the door, I had to pry it open with the little stub that remained. I lived with this for several months before a family friend found a way to fix the handle without paying half of what the car was worth. I waited a long time for that handle, mismatched though it may be, and I don't want it to break off. Ever.

So when I found the driver's door was frozen shut, I didn't try to force it. Instead, I tried to force the back seat handle. Who cares if it gets broken? After much effort, I eventually succeeded in wrenching the back seat door open. I turned on the car from the backseat and grabbed my ice scraper. No need for a snow broom today!

My car was parked right outside my roommate's window. She often comments that she is awakened in the morning by people scraping their windows across the parking lot. This morning, I was sure that I was the one waking up my roommate. This was no delicate Tennessee frost. Underneath that pretty topcoat of snow was a serious layer of ice. The parking lot seemed to echo with the scratch of my scraper skittering across the top of the ice. Usually I like station wagons, but on days like today, I wish I drove a car with a few less windows.

After a full upper-body workout, I finally had all the windows cleared. I thought that by now, the car would have warmed up and the door would be unfrozen. No luck. So I got in the back seat again and crawled up to the front, bumping my car horn in the process. Sorry, Jamie. Finally ready to go, I inched onto the glassy parking lot and cautiously drove to school.

A few summers ago, I worked in the housing department in the basement of Thatcher South. They were remodeling, and sometimes I would be the only person in the entire building. On one such occasion, Campus Safety changed all the door access while I was still inside. My ID card was instantly useless. When I tried to leave, I discovered I was trapped in the hallway, unable to get back into my office and unable to get out of the dorm. While I knew in my mind that I had a cell phone and could call Campus Safety to come rescue me, I felt sudden clausterphobia. Panic is not rational.

Today when I got to school, I thought that by now - for sure - my car door would be unfrozen. But when I tried to open it (from the inside this time), and it wouldn't budge, I again felt extreme clausterphobia. Every rational fact was blocked from my conciousness. I was trapped, and the only thought in my panicking mind was a screaming question.

What if?
Read More 4 comments | Posted by Miss Jehle edit post

4 comments

  1. Ben Schnell on December 12, 2008 at 11:43 AM

    I am blown away by your photoshop metaphor, that was awesome.

    Also, that is an awesome story, I almost laughed out loud, which would have been embarrassing because I'm in class

     
  2. Justin Jones on December 15, 2008 at 11:40 AM

    I was referred to your blog as an example of stellar writing...I was not disappointed. You are now in Tennessee, I hope that as you spend time here every door opens easily for you.

     
  3. Ms.Hey on December 19, 2008 at 1:22 PM

    I'm sorry California isn't much warmer! :(

    Speaking of which, are you in town?

     
  4. Andrea on December 20, 2008 at 8:51 PM

    Ah, I'm so glad I read the blog version! Even better! I hope to keep hearing more legends of the snow this winter.

     


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