I drove through near-blizzard conditions on my way up to a family Christmas & it wasn't exactly a walk in the park. I equate winter driving on snow & ice to a combination of walking a tight-rope and going to the dreaded dentist.
Combine 40 mph wind gusts with heavy snowfall, all you have to go with are tiny blurred red spots, otherwise known as the car's tail lights ahead of you - praying that they 
even know where the road is in front of them! Yeah, it gives white-out a whole new definition. Then...you're trying, like a tight-rope CiRcUs performer, to keep your tires within the two thin tire tracks, with fear of changing lanes because of that huge hUmP of slush/ice/snow covering the center line. Any false move, like a painful dentist's "accidental" slip with a wire hook & you're toast! You can't decide whether to drive in the left lane where if you slide off the road you run right into oncoming traffic OR in the right lane where if you slide off the road you go rOlLiNg down that 80 degree decline into the ice cold creek where no one will find you...
even know where the road is in front of them! Yeah, it gives white-out a whole new definition. Then...you're trying, like a tight-rope CiRcUs performer, to keep your tires within the two thin tire tracks, with fear of changing lanes because of that huge hUmP of slush/ice/snow covering the center line. Any false move, like a painful dentist's "accidental" slip with a wire hook & you're toast! You can't decide whether to drive in the left lane where if you slide off the road you run right into oncoming traffic OR in the right lane where if you slide off the road you go rOlLiNg down that 80 degree decline into the ice cold creek where no one will find you...Every once in awhile during the blind drive, like during an oh-so-enjoyable dentist treatment, you find your 
entire body is completely tensed up & stiff from holding the exact same position, leaning forward (as if you have more control) for hours...and then unable to open your hands when you arrive to the destination because they hurt from your steering wheel death grip! Oh yeah...& it's about the only time in your life where you actually listen to your Driver's Ed. teacher & have your hands permanently held at 10 & 2.
entire body is completely tensed up & stiff from holding the exact same position, leaning forward (as if you have more control) for hours...and then unable to open your hands when you arrive to the destination because they hurt from your steering wheel death grip! Oh yeah...& it's about the only time in your life where you actually listen to your Driver's Ed. teacher & have your hands permanently held at 10 & 2. Those big cocky SUV's or trucks with 44" monster tires who think they can zoom right through this stuff - psshhh...that's why they're the ones you always end up seeing in the ditch a couple miles down the road... To feel bad, or not too feel bad?!
Something that makes me laugh about bad winter weather is when you're watching the news. They're telling you "travel is not advised" and that it's 20 below wind chill, yet they have their near-frost bitten reporters standing out in the middle of it to tell us! Uh, I think we can look out the window & see, thanks.
Anyway, the exhausting drive up to the northern Iowa farm country for the Berkenes family Christmas was completed successfully & was well worth it...
I had so much fun with all my little cousins who came from Indiana & North Carolina, as well as chowed down on a little too much fudge! I can't wait to have Christmas with the other side of the family in January & hope I have a less stressful drive.
I hope you all made it to your gatherings safely, too!
Me with the 'rents & my cousin Les sneaking in behind. My brother had to work. :(
My triplet cousins Nick, Preston & Tori with their sister Hannah & other cousins Caroline & Chris inside their "fort"
Cheesin' it with Nick, Preston & Tori
Grandma & Grandpa with 9 of their 13 GREAT grandkids - they're still doing well in their 80's!
Grandma & Grandpa with 4 of their 8 grandkids, including ME :)
I guess 18 year old boys are exempt from photographs, darn you Nate! ;P
Little 5 year old Nick driving the go-kart all by himself!
Me & my silly cousin Hannah
LOL - I think Reid is a little tired of watching Grandma open her gifts..."my turn!"
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