The first snow of the season arrived this weekend in Madison. There was a snow storm that was predicted to drop up to 10 inches of snow. However, fortunately, in the end it dropped much less.
In this season of shoveling and plowing travel becomes quite the endeavor. With winter weather now in full swing, each day I must venture out, armed with my jacket, thick socks, gloves, and hat, hoping that the sidewalks are properly shoveled. Over the years in Madison, I’ve had many a snowy mishap of getting stuck on unshoveled sidewalks, encountering curb cuts full of snow and ice, and dealing with slick slopes. But my worst incident came when I slid an entire block downhill on one of the major roads by my apartment.
Working on the Capitol square, which is on the top of a hill, everything else (including my apartment) is downhill. And these hills are not just a slight incline, but are some steep slopes. One night, rolling home from work in the dark, I turned onto E Mifflin street, which I often use to get home, and start rolling a couple feet, when the chair begins to slide. I frantically try to put the chair in reverse, as this sometimes help to gain traction and slow a slide, but it was having no effect. The prospect of sliding is made increasingly frightening on E Mifflin as the sidewalks are steep and slope toward the street. If the chair were to slide off of the sidewalk it would likely flip over into the street in front of oncoming cars.
My mind racing, I scan the perimeter looking for anyone I can shout out to for help with my perilous descent. The end of the sidewalk is soon approaching. The curb and intersection looming ahead I fear that I shall soon take the plunge into the street. Bracing myself for impact (having flipped over before breaking my collarbone), this power-skid of death comes to an abrupt stop just feet short of the end of the sidewalk.
Lessons learned, and the biggest scare of my life (so far), I now take the bus in icy weather, in spite of my apartment being only a few blocks from work.
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