On Weather

As some of you know, I live in very, very, northern Wisconsin. As in, the freeway ends and you still have another hour to drive on dinky, rural highways; northern Wisconsin.

Anyway, I was home from college this past weekend celebrating my mom's birthday when Winter Storm Luna descended. I had been planning to drive back to my dorm on Sunday, so I could have all day to complete the 4 hour drive before class the next day. But ice accumulations of 1+ inches, 5+ inches of snow coating that, and a winter mix of what our TV weather broadcaster called "frist" hindered things. A quick check of road conditions online also revealed that part of the highway was shutdown because of a major accident. This discovered, I figured it was better to stay put than drive back to school. Since I had planned to spend most of Sunday evening hiding in my dorm, I hadn't bothered to bring much homework with me. Time to freak out? Definitely not.

Luna, though she messed up my travel arrangements, gave me an extra day where I had absolutely nothing planned. Which meant, I had time to write. Many college students are quick to tell you that time like this - free time where homework is actually impossible to complete - is rare indeed. For many frazzled parents and business execs, the story isn't all that different. But when weather strikes and puts a damper on things, take the challenge. Write during the time you had planned to be doing something much different. Even if you only get a sentence written during a commercial break, it's more than you had previously. Because writing is the exact opposite of winter driving. When driving during winter, it's everyone else on the road you have to keep an eye on. They are usually going too fast, don't see the black ice, or forget that slush loves to eat tires. In short, you have to anticipate their actions, though you're confident of your own. Whereas, in writing, you are the only one responsible and the only one to blame when the next chapter isn't finished or that poem is still scrawled on the inside of an old pizza box.

So, let weather stop you from barbecuing, meeting, cleaning, or driving, but don't let it stop your writing. Even if that means that the next day you have to wake up before sunrise and drive the 4 hours back to school before class.