3-BLIZZARD

When we reached the house at the end of the road, we saw that it was not too far back off the shoulder so the major jumped out and ran the delivery to the front door of the house. Turning around required all of us to get out and guide the driver so he did not back or drive off the road. We proceeded with caution back up the road. We needed to dig our way for one short stretch but had not too much difficulty gaining the main highway. On our way back into St. Thomas we noticed that our tire tracks from the trip out were gone, filled in by the blowing snow.

Later that night, I was assigned to drive for the police. I did the first check of the jeep, called a first parade, and drove to the station where an officer was waiting for me. The jeep, a Korean War-era model was a far cry from the comfort of a police cruiser, but with its four-wheel drive, canvas roof, walls and doors, it would go where no cruiser could go on that night. The officer was friendly and we chatted casually as we roamed the deserted, snow-choked streets of the city. I saw aluminum siding torn off some businesses and mounds of snow along the streets that I assumed were buried cars. On one side street, I almost hit a partially buried car. The officer told me not to worry about it; it would serve the guy right for parking on the street in a storm like this. I never tested that theory as I didn’t hit anyone.

The night passed quietly and just before dawn I returned my officer to the police station.

Back at the armouries, we were issued sleeping bags and found space on the floor of the drill hall to stretch out and get a few hours’ sleep. I knew I was only a weekend warrior but I had developed the soldiers’ ability to fall asleep almost anywhere. The floor was not so bad.

By the second day, the city was making progress clearing some of the main arteries. The police still needed our assistance and we were available for calls for help. By the afternoon of the second day, we were released from duty and the deuce was used to drive us home.

Once home, I had another cup of coffee. Sitting for a while in the warmth of the house, I suddenly felt tired again and went to my room. I took off my uniform and crawled into bed for more sleep. It was two days I would remember for a long time.