Christmas Week, Minnesota 1980

I heard the "Whoosh!!~!" as the glass flew past my ear . Splinters sprayed in every direction as it hit the shelf above the stove tossing spices and little bottles everywhere. Out of habit I ducked again , expecting she'd adjusted her aim and centered on the back of my head. Thirty years of marriage had fine tuned her skills and I cowered in submission to her angry charge. Her words hateful, the volume loud. Delivered with the force of one who was intent to kill.

I know my place, I've learned it well. when the Indian part manifests itself I'm all done. So I raised the white flag and began to mutter the honey baby snookums stuff that has sustained me throughout the years. I watched her face, not attempting to move until some of the color returned. When she put the fryin pan back down I got up and moved carefully towards her, keeping the back door free to my right. Chancing fate I placed my hand to her shoulder hoping to calm her fury. Then gently, carefully led her to the one chair that had survived the battle.
And then, as if by script here came the tears. How does she do this? How can she be Raging Bull's mother in law one minute and in a twinkle sit hear blubbering like some lil sick puppy??
In all these years together you'd think I could get a grip on this but here i sit ready to do her bidding and this just after experiencing her terror.
And all this because our son is snowbound on a farm 20 miles away. This is

Minnesota and winters get rough. Common sense tells you to wait out the storm. The radio n TV are both saying NO travel, danger, stay home. But Mama wants her son here on Christmas Eve .
Now just for clarity I re read the above account and its possible I may have embellished or even added a facet or two to the events leading up to this point. I have been known to get carried away from time to time. But lets move on.

To begin with Minnesotans live in snow 4 -5 months a year. As a result survival was something dad taught you somewheres between kindergarten and first grade. We know you can die outside very quickly if you cant stay warm. And we've seen and heard the stories of those who tested Ma nature unprepared. We are also a people who play and work outside throughout the winter months. I said all that so you 'd give me a little credit when I decided to go after my son that night in a near blizzard snowstorm.

Twas the night before Christmas an I and my friend, set out to the ridges and over the glen. The snow wazza blowin, the roads a big mess, my mind was a jumble of doubt I confess. We took my old Chevy all loaded with stuff n set out to get him our fuel just enough. The north wind was howlin the snow just a mess to stay on the roadway was any ones guess. My friend gripped the dashboard and stared thru the snow while I wrestled the Chevy to the place we would go. When we got to the hilltop we started to spin for the snow was much deeper and we bucked a strong wind. I tried to move closer but the drifts were to high, sat back in my seat and gave a huge sigh. Outside the fogged windows a huge winter storm that shook the old Chevy as we tried to stay warm. As we peered thru the darkness and started to talk the decision came quickly that I'd have to walk. I knew we were close but the drive way was long , in a snow storm like this one things can go wrong. So I zipped tight my snowsuit and pulled on my gloves, grabbed hold of the handle and gave it a shove. The door latch was open the snow blasted in, I tossed some at junior then left with a grin. The darkness was creepy, the snow deep and white, my eyes still adjusting to the cold winter night. I looked toward the farmhouse thru eyes blind from snow and off in the darkness a small yellow glow. I made my way closer keeping watch on the light that would give me direction thru the cold winter night. As I walked even closer I was moving up hill and it puzzled me fiercely but I kept going still. Then all of a sudden the snow gave away and I found my self falling till below there I lay. When I gathered my senses and wiped my self clean, I was standing be side a road grading machine. The strong winds had drifted the snow to its top and buried the whole thing till the blizzard would stop. Heading on to the farmhouse I gathered my son then back to the Chevy this time on a run.
When we walked in our doorway, my brood gave a cheer for we'd all be together at Christmas this year. The moral I guess could be construed many ways , but a fun thing it's not on a cold winter day. But I'm in her good graces and I'm off of her list, my plates on the table, and my forehead she kissed. While its still kinda early I'll bid you good cheer and hope that your Christmas is merry this year. A. L. R.