Hmm. Last year, the Midwest states had to deal with a huuuuge blizzard for Groundhog’s Day. Remember Snow-pocalypse? The whole winter seemed like a “snow train” which dumped storm after storm along with cold weather.
This winter, it’s balmy with a few squalls of snow. Go figure.
Several Alaska towns nearly ran out of fuel oil due to storms, and Europe is dealing with terrible winter weather. We recently had two days of an arctic blast of cold, shivering through temps of 23 with lows at night in the teens. I guess we’ve forgotten the REAL cold of a normal Michigan winter, with high temps in the teens and nighttime lows below zero. The only experts I know (PhD grad students) tell me that El Nino and El Nina are playing switcheroo games, but who can really say what’s causing all this crazy weather? Climate change, the ozone layer, arctic winds… whatever.
I do love putting realistic details in my writing, though. So it was natural for me to include the infamous Groundhog Day blizzard in The Key to Love. I had to research some of it, though, because my mind had a “mental block” against those cold, freezing days. Brrr. Here’s a few more pictures from my own backyard:
And here’s an excerpt from ♥ The Key to Love ♥ about that …
Jennette switched off the television. Reports showed cars abandoned on freeways and wind gusts of up to seventy miles and hour in Chicago. Michigan fared little better, with schools closing down along with most universities. Except good old UM—true diehards no matter what the weather. She watched the snow pile up outside the window. Besides ice coating the roads and the near white-out conditions last night and this morning, the most
interesting thing had been hearing occasional rumbles of thunder.
So much for Groundhog Day. This was the worst winter she could remember with snowstorm after snowstorm. Now the record-setting blizzard depressed her.
Jennette kicked herself for not stopping at the store on the way home yesterday. She’d been too upset, and she had no milk, bread or much of anything in the pantry. It would be hours before a snow plow went through, and her little car would get stuck in two minutes flat. Dad hadn’t even shown up last night when he promised. He hadn’t answered his cell either. Jennette figured he would call. Eventually.
At least her apartment had heat. If that went, she was a goner. Frank had curled up beside her on top of the Hudson’s Bay wool blanket near the gas log fireplace. She let the book slide off her lap, though. Her cell’s catchy jingle didn’t lift her spirits. She let it go to voice mail since she didn’t recognize the number. Jennette flipped through the channels on the remote and then sighed. No good movies. Nothing but reruns or talk shows, and the endless barrage of forecasts and raging winter weather conditions throughout the Midwest to the Northeast.
Maybe Dad had used someone’s phone to check on her. Curious, she punched in the code to her voice mail. Jennette recognized Steve Harmon’s voice. “Hi, Jenn. Hope you made it home safe. Call me anytime.”
The click startled her. He’d hung up before he identified himself. Surprised by his nervous tone, she pocketed the cell and snuggled deeper in the soft cushions…
DOWNLOAD The Key to Love and find out how Jennette handles that phone call!
