I Should Have Chose Hawaii

What was I thinking. They have Teach for America Hawaii. I mean, those kids need a lot of love too...At least this has been my line of thinking since the big blizzard of 08 hit Kyle, South Dakota.

Now I am no wimp. I grew up in Montana and I know how ugly weather can get. But the last few days are different. It started to snow around 3:00. The flakes were huge--the size of quarters. But what is a little snow? Well, it isn't the snow that is bad--it is the wind. The wind has been blowing at about 60 mph. Visibility is around 5 feet. My power went out around midnight--which meant no heat and no stove. I woke up to the same nasty weather. I couldn't listen to the radio and find out if there was school since I had no power. I have no phone, no radio, no television and no Internet. I therefore had no idea if there was school this morning. And so, I tried to drive to the school. That would have been a great idea had my truck started. I tried to get back into my building only to find that ice had formed in the key hole of the outside door of my apartment. I was really scared to be locked out, but I eventually shoved it in there and returned to my frigid apartment.

I found out school was canceled when another teacher in the apartment knocked on my door. So, I went back to bed and slept until noon. I think got up and had canned tuna as I could not cook anything since my stove is electric. Then, I washed my dishes and went back to bed until 3:00 at which time I decided had better go to school. I put on my army combat boots, my yellow rain jacket (yes Banny, I still have it) and my babushka shawl from Uganda (do you remember that one Rebekah)? I then headed out into the storm to my truck. Sadly, my truck was stuck because of a thick layer of ice that had built up behind the truck. So, I went back to my truck and packed an overnight bag. I stuffed school clothes, a flashlight, a toothbrush and a comb into my bag, then I started off on the 1/4 journey towards the school. I was the only person alive out there. It was toasty in my yellow jacket and my boots seem to be waterproof. I made it to the school and now I am here, in my cozy classroom, preparing to spend the night. Yes, I would rather sleep in my classroom then spend the night on the floor than once again brave those elements! Yes, I should have chose Hawaii.