WINTER WEATHER PATTERNS CHANGE QUICKLY

While I was enjoying a December sleigh ride with our family more than half a century ago, Robert, the person who would become my husband 20 years later was also having a sleigh ride home with his family. They lived near Calgary, Alberta, several hundred miles north of our town of Orion. Christmas celebrations included the concert that was held at Mount Olive School near Three Hills. The family had stayed for the dance that was held after the concert. Music was furnished by members of the community, including Robert’s elder brother, George. After midnight it became clear that the indoor revelry had masked the sounds of a rising blizzard. The wooden frame building began to tremble and the windows rattled a warning. It became clear that this was more than just the fast tapping feet on the plank floor. One of the men stoked the fire in the pot-bellied wood-burning stove as others lined up their horse drawn sleighs to load up their families.

This was not one of those Alberta Chinook that could change overnight to above zero temperatures. George had not worn his winter coat over his orchestra outfit. The weather had turned into a full-fledged blizzard. It was not more than two miles home. The horses tossed their heads and snorted. They too were anxious for their home stalls. Sleigh tracks on the road were not clear and the horses balked at the reins. Robert’s mother had wisely tossed a blanket in the sleigh before they left home and the parents with their four children huddled together for warmth. Finally the father realized they were lost and decided to trust the horses find the way. Within what only seemed a few minutes the tall clothes line posts appeared and the horses stopped at the welcome sight of home. With the horses safe in the barn the home fires were stoked for the night and a very grateful family appreciated the ancient wisdom of their faithful horses, proving to be smarter than any of our fancy cars. A similar blizzard has been going on during the last few days in the entire area around the Calgary area with police warnings to stay off the roads until the blizzard passes on. Friends in Olds, Alberta tell me that their blizzard will soon be passing east toward Saskatchewan. The wind chill there is now minus 27. Very cold weather will continue in their area for at least another week.