MARCY'S FLIGHT NUN TRAVEL BLOG- HEADING TO WORK IN THE MOST SEVER SNOW STORM IN U.S. HISTORY!

It was January 26th, 1978.  I woke early, having been aware of a snow storm coming.  Indeed, looking out the window I saw nothing but "White".  Normally I left home in Harper Woods, Michigan to the Detroit Metro Airport about 1 1/2 hours before I needed to check in.  I thought I was being extra cautious by giving myself 3 hours!

First I had to dig out the driveway! Now into my uniform and with 3 hours to check-in I was off to my flight--or so I thought!

As soon as I entered the expressway I realized the traffic was at a crawl! Oh my! We had "white out" conditions.  I could see the car in front of me and not much else.

Slowly we crawled along. After an hour I realized I wasn't even halfway there! Two hours into my drive- still not even close.  I was passing cars that had pulled over onto the shoulder. 

As I was coming up on 3 hours I realized I was going to have to pull off the expressway and find a phone. I needed to call scheduling and let them know my plight!

Let me note that many of the Flight Attendants were commuters- meaning they flew in from their home, stayed at a hotel overnight, and took their trip the next day. Those Flight Attendants who had commuted in the night before were staying near the airport.  I, on the other hand was no where near the airport, and was closing in on departure time.

Hind sight says I should have just turned around and headed home! I wasn't going to make it!! But I kept thinking that I had to make every attempt to get there anyway.

More minutes flew by as I crawled along the expressway.  Many cars were along side of the expressway now. White out conditions were getting so sever- I could hardly see in front of my car hood! I kept thinking that maybe the flight had been cancelled.  I remember a large semi in front of me- sliding a bit back and forth! I would say that was one white knuckle ride!

I arrived at the airport about 5 hours after leaving home! Needless to say- I missed my morning flight! I was exhausted from the tension of the drive!  I made the decision to park in the covered pay lot- about the only place that wan't bogged down in snow- and thinking I probably be heading back home sometime that day.  Wrong!

Once at check-in I was met with some disapproving looks! (What the heck?!?) I was informed that other Flight Attendants could get there just fine- what was my excuse? I felt like screaming! Tears of frustration welled as I explained I had been driving for FIVE hours!! But after explaining that those who met their flights were probably commuters- they seemed to calm down- and so did I.  Plus I thought that they would understand once they tried to go home!

I couldn't believe flights had actually left that morning.  It seems the ground crews had worked through the night to keep the runways open- or at least a few of them.  Some airplanes were able to take off-mine was one of them! And so that first day went- with the airport opening up for a bit- then closing- then opening again.  

Scheduling decided to put me on the trip from hell.  Five days of flying with 8-12 landings per day. I scolded myself for not simply turning around and going home instead of staying the course.  But after my initial self grumbling, I decided to make the best of it. I was flying on the Convair 580- which seemed to be able to take off in the worst conditions, unlike some of the larger jets.

During my 5 days of flying I was told that though the Detroit Metro airport was open- the express ways were closed, so passengers going into Detroit were stuck at the airport and the hotels near by!

Once I finally was released from duty- I found the "saga" wasn't over! My car- parked in a pay lot wouldn't start! The damn thing was dead as a doornail! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!! I decided to look at this like an adventure! (Okay- I probably kicked the car tires and lost my religion for a few minutes first!)

I finally found a room at one of the airport hotels and continued flying where ever they needed me.  I wan't going anywhere!

Eight days since the start of the Blizzard from hell hit- My Hero came in the form of a First Officer friend of mine.  He came on his day off- worked on my car- and got it started!  Hurrah! Between the parking fees, car repair items, and hotels- this was one expensive snow storm!

My drive home was indeed faster than the one heading to the airport that snowy day! But once home I realized there was no power and no heat. Was this Winter nightmare ever going to end? The power came back one week after I got home.

I clipped the front page of a news paper that pictured the expressways totally packed with snow and cars. My next trip out I was called into my supervisors office for a "reprimand" for my No Show. I produced the news paper, slammed it down on the desk and stated that I was one of those cars on that express way!  I couldn't believe I was being called in- but the Supervisor let me know it was just procedure- and all was well. 

In the long run it was on my record as a No Show due to extreme weather conditions.  I found out that even if you lived over an hour away from the airport- you couldn't claim "unable to commute" unless you lived farther away and needed to fly in.

All's well that ends well.  There were a few more delayed arrivals during my career- one being on the expressway when two tankers collided and exploded, not far from where I was! That shut down the expressway.  There was no exit I could take between myself and the tankers.  I spent 7 hours in the car that day! I guess -considering that I had a 39 year career of driving to work on the Detroit expressways, those two extreme conditions were just par for the course!

But the Storm that fell January of 1978, with up to 40 inches of snow in some parts, 100 mile winds, and white out conditions - well, that's not one I'll ever forget!!

Until Next Time, Dear Readers! 

Life Is Indeed An Adventure!  When Mother Nature Decides To Unleash, It's An Adventure Indeed!!