Hung up on a snow bank

Ten weeks ago, I got a new car. An Aveo. That I love. My feet go from the floor of the car all the way on to the pedal. This might sound like a normal thing, but I have never owned a car where this has occurred because I have really tiny feet. It makes me very happy every time I get in the car. 

Being that I made the poor decision to move to Minnesota after Germany, it’s gone through a few bajillion snowstorms — and it’s handled really well even if it’s technically “not winter worthy.” Then Thursday happened. And it was snowing and gross yet again. And traffic was not moving quickly. 

This allowed me to watch the car in front of me where the passenger put on make-up for 15 miles. This blew my mind as I do that step in between cracking my eggs into the pan and having them be cooked. I get off right before the bypass and take a county highway that I take every time there is a teacup of snow because I don’t want to sit still for hours on a one lane road that doesn’t allow me to exit. 

I follow a Focus that has it’s muffler tied up and I’m concerned it’s going to fall off. We’re moving steadily – like 45 the whole way. Then the Focus just speeds up like crazy and I can feel myself getting too fast. Oh crap. Too fast. Too fast. Hill….curve…oh, this is not good.

I go to tap the brakes — not slam, tap. A tap that flips my car around so I am now hurtling around the curve going backwards and I have no control over the car as it just keeps going faster and faster.

Right before flipping my u-ey, I caught a glimpse of this car that is turning left.

Please don’t hit that car. What’s it going to feel like hitting a tree? Why haven’t I hit a tree yet? There are SO many trees here. Hmmm….Well, at least I know an adorable tow guy that I would love to have come unwrap my car from a tree… 

I feel my car going even farther downhill. I glance to my left. I realize that miraculously I am no longer on Highway 6, but on a dead end road. 

Maybe I should brake? Would that help this situation?

I realize I have stopped moving. I look out my passenger window where there’s a stop sign a couple inches from my mirror. I glance out the back, and I can see those yellow wires off the telephone poles right behind my car. 

I focus on putting my car in park and turning it off. That car that was going to turn left does and pulls to a stop.

A guy gets out as I focus on opening my car door as my windows won’t work —- because my car is off. 

I get out of my car —- on super shaky legs.

“Are you ok?!”

“Uh….yeah. Yeah. I’m. HOLY CRAP.”

“I don’t think you hit anything!”

“Seriously!? HOLY CRAP.”

He walks around the car a bit. The car that is completely hung up on a snow bank. Front left tire on the ground. Back tires about two feet off the ground with a snow bank under the car.

“So, you need some help?”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah. I’m a bit stuck.” 

“Sure thing. I’m working on my dad’s house up the street. Let me go get a tow.”

“Ok. Thanks so much!!”

I get back in my car as the guy drives off. Another truck pulls in shortly behind him.

“Hey, you didn’t spill your coffee!”

“No, just taking a little break on my way to work.”

“You ok?”

“Yeah, I think so. Just a bit stuck.”

“I thought you were my son’s girlfriend at first. Wondered what she was doing here. Let me check my truck. My wife just made me clean it out, so I don’t think I have anything.”

He walks around the truck, searching. I mention another guy just passed and was going to get a tow at the house he’s working on. Second guy hops in the truck just to go check if he found something.

Shortly after, first guy pulls up in a big truck. Attaches a rope to my car. I get back in, start the car and put it in drive.

He drives forward.

My car gets unhung from the snow bank it has come to rest upon.

Second guy: “I guess that fish is looking out for you” as he touches the Christian fish that is on the back of my car.

“Yeah, I guess so.” And now I feel like a hypocrite for wanting that fish off my car.

I walk back up to the front of the car and thank First Guy for helping out. 

“No problem — that was amazing!”

“Heh…yeah…”

I drive off and second guy follows me all the way to 101.

I get to work only 30min later than I was planning on. And my car appears to be in perfect working order. And I’m still rather amazed that no trees were harmed in the hanging up of my car on a snowbank. 

Oh, and I’m moving to a warmer climate. Effective almost immediately. I’m done with weather.