Photo courtesy of shagya-blog.blogspot.com

A blizzard is a heavy snowstorm with very cold temperatures, sustained winds of at least 35mph, and visibility of less than 0.25 miles. When a mass of polar air and warm air meet, the polar air pushes the warm air up and settles in the atmosphere where the water vapor forms snow clouds. Then winds and low temperatures combine with the snow to create a blizzard. Ya ya ya ya. That was a scientific expalination. In my own words, it is stormy and minus freakin cold. and you can't see very far cuz of the blowing snow and cold. We had a blizzard here in our city on monday that lasted for about 36 hours. Every time I looked out the window , I could not even see accross the street at times. Eventually the snow stopped falling and the temperature dropped to minus 38 with a wind chill of minus 52. So for 2 days now our city has been in what you call a deep freeze. I only remember a winter chill like this once since moving to this province. It was the first winter we were here actually. The kids and I moved here from the mild climates of B.C. just after my husband left. I did not have a car that first winter and when I needed to get groceries or go to appointments it was the bus. Sometimes my sister was available to drive us where we needed to go. One night much like tonight my son was invited to go to a birthday party at a school mates home. I called to asked my sister if she could possibly drive Jordan to the birthday party? The answer I got was " no I don't think so." I was somewhat miffed at that answer. Only because I'm the type of person that does not ask for help unless I trully need it. So when I was turned down flat I was feeling dejected and disappointed. We were new to the community and for my son to be invited to a class mates birthday was a big thing. My son was determinded to go. The only other option was to walk. I was not about to let him go out at 12 years old all by himself in the dark , in minus 38 winter weather( -50 wind chill). So we bundled up as best we could(it was dark at 6 oclock) and started off walking to his school mates home . We only walked 2 blocks and we were freezing. We stepped up the pace and made it to the party house. In all it was about 7 blocks away. I left my son at the door and I had to face the long walk home. By the time I arrived home I was frozen and in pain. Every where the skin was exposed was numb. My feet and legs were hurting so bad. As I began to unthaw it hurt so much. I sat and cried. I think that was the coldest I have ever felt in my life. I had never experienced the Saskatchewan winter deep freeze before. I had a warm bath, a cup of tea and wondered how my son was feeling at the party. I'm glad he did not have to walk both ways with me. Luckily my son got a ride home after the party. When he came through the door he was all smiles and happy. He had a great time. We survied that frigid time and I know that we can survive this frigid time as well. I have a vehicle now and am not expected to walk in these freezing temps. I wonder if Jordan remembers that time. I'll have to ask him. Maybe he remembers things about that night in a totally different way. Or maybe he doesn't remember it at all.