My work commute is about 6 miles each way and typically takes ~25 min in peak traffic. Today it took a little over 3 hours. Here is the Memento (Ghajini)-style account of my longest commute home from work, ever.
6:30PM- Mile 6.5- Home
I see a man with a backpack. "Do you need a ride?". No, he says. "I am almost home". Few more yards later, I see another man on sidewalk facing opposite to the snow/wind. "Do you need a ride?" "Where are you headed?" We live in the same neighborhood. He hops in. Apparently his family moved from Tallahassee (FL) too- recall that we are FSU graduates- after living there for 12 years. They live on the same street as us now. What a small world!
6:00PM- Mile 5.0
I see a mom walking her middle school-aged kids on the sidewalk. They look like they just got out of their stalled car. Another parent walking his elementary school kid. I am not sure if I am ever going to make it home. Maybe I should park at QFC and walk.
5:45PM- Mile 4.5
Stalled school bus. People pushing cars to help others along. A lady going the opposite direction is kind enough to roll her window down, dial the number I yell out to her, and let the husband know I am safe. She only has 5% charge left in her phone. Hope she makes it home safe.
5:30PM- Mile 4.0
Stalled cars on road. Looks like someone is looking for jumper cables. Another man holds his little kid on his shoulders and walks on the sidewalk after abandoning his car on the side.
5:15PM- Mile 3.5
There are no cars on this busy street. Wonder why the traffic was so ridiculous up until now?! Roads seem just fi...ne. Whoa, come on, Jeep, turn this way, don't go onto the sidewalk!
5:00PM- Mile 3.0
Back on original path, Good thing I know the neighborhood back roads.
4:45PM- Mile 1.5
The alternate route did not quite work out. I at least got to practice all the Carnatic songs I have learnt in the past year.
4:30PM- Mile 1.6
Phone died. Seinfeld moment. The traffic in lane next to mine appears to be moving faster. I should change lanes, take that alternate route.
4:15PM- Mile 1.5
Incoming call: "This is an important announcement from Beaverton School District. All buses are running late."
4:00PM- Mile 1.5
I text my husband: "My phone is almost out of charge. I am fine."
3:45PM- Mile 1
Crazy downtown dwellers always blocking the road next to on ramp. Good riddance, highway cars! I should be on my merry suburban way soon.
3:30PM- Out of work parking lot
The sidewalks don't even have any snow. Don't worry, husband, it's all good. "Should be home in 20min"
3:15PM- Work
I don't need to use the restroom, do I really need to stop or just head on out of work? (I did stop)
3:00PM- Work
Glad I got some work done in the factory and that the school actually stayed open the full day. Knowing how the district works around snow days, the next school day will likely be in the new year.
2:00PM- Work
Text from husband: "Come home early, it is going to be crazy with the snow"
I answer: "Crazy? I am in the middle of something. Besides, snow is not even sticking"
1:30PM- Work
So many chickens around work! It has not even started snowing and people are already headed home.
6:30PM- Mile 6.5- Home
- Snow Karma is real. Sorry, coworkers, for calling you chickens when you left work two hours before me.
- Thank you, lady at West Union and Bethany intersection for calling my husband for me and letting him know I am safe. Hope you too are safe and warm at your home.
- Thank you, old Jeep. Your all wheel drive saved me today. Sorry I never said anything nice about you until now.
- Thank you, random people at West Union and 185th for pushing cars away and clearing roads for traffic. If it were not for you, I would still be at mile 4.0.
- Thank you, dear self, for using the restroom at work. That may have been the only smart decision you have made all day.
I see a man with a backpack. "Do you need a ride?". No, he says. "I am almost home". Few more yards later, I see another man on sidewalk facing opposite to the snow/wind. "Do you need a ride?" "Where are you headed?" We live in the same neighborhood. He hops in. Apparently his family moved from Tallahassee (FL) too- recall that we are FSU graduates- after living there for 12 years. They live on the same street as us now. What a small world!
6:00PM- Mile 5.0
I see a mom walking her middle school-aged kids on the sidewalk. They look like they just got out of their stalled car. Another parent walking his elementary school kid. I am not sure if I am ever going to make it home. Maybe I should park at QFC and walk.
5:45PM- Mile 4.5
Stalled school bus. People pushing cars to help others along. A lady going the opposite direction is kind enough to roll her window down, dial the number I yell out to her, and let the husband know I am safe. She only has 5% charge left in her phone. Hope she makes it home safe.
5:30PM- Mile 4.0
Stalled cars on road. Looks like someone is looking for jumper cables. Another man holds his little kid on his shoulders and walks on the sidewalk after abandoning his car on the side.
5:15PM- Mile 3.5
There are no cars on this busy street. Wonder why the traffic was so ridiculous up until now?! Roads seem just fi...ne. Whoa, come on, Jeep, turn this way, don't go onto the sidewalk!
5:00PM- Mile 3.0
Back on original path, Good thing I know the neighborhood back roads.
4:45PM- Mile 1.5
The alternate route did not quite work out. I at least got to practice all the Carnatic songs I have learnt in the past year.
4:30PM- Mile 1.6
Phone died. Seinfeld moment. The traffic in lane next to mine appears to be moving faster. I should change lanes, take that alternate route.
4:15PM- Mile 1.5
Incoming call: "This is an important announcement from Beaverton School District. All buses are running late."
4:00PM- Mile 1.5
I text my husband: "My phone is almost out of charge. I am fine."
3:45PM- Mile 1
Crazy downtown dwellers always blocking the road next to on ramp. Good riddance, highway cars! I should be on my merry suburban way soon.
3:30PM- Out of work parking lot
The sidewalks don't even have any snow. Don't worry, husband, it's all good. "Should be home in 20min"
3:15PM- Work
I don't need to use the restroom, do I really need to stop or just head on out of work? (I did stop)
3:00PM- Work
Glad I got some work done in the factory and that the school actually stayed open the full day. Knowing how the district works around snow days, the next school day will likely be in the new year.
2:00PM- Work
Text from husband: "Come home early, it is going to be crazy with the snow"
I answer: "Crazy? I am in the middle of something. Besides, snow is not even sticking"
1:30PM- Work
So many chickens around work! It has not even started snowing and people are already headed home.
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