Journeys of the Snowchaser

Howard couldn't remember how many times we'd "chased the snow." It was always a special kind of gift.... to make these treks. He'd seemed driven to search it out wherever that might take them. Seldom did we leave home without eventually seeing snow fall somewhere.... watching the weather channel was something habitually done in winter months.... as routinely as eating meals, and sometimes even ending meals with a plan..... especially if the forecast projected snow in the North Georgia Mountains. "Hey Baby, pack our toothbrushes and let's go north. Snow is coming...gotta hurry."

Most of the time the destination was ultimately the mountains of North Carolina....but once Howard began driving he would simply go with the projected path of the anticipated snowfall.... and often just following his "gut instinct." At least once, admittedly, our "gut instinct" , (even with careful radio monitoring around the oncoming snowstorm...we had driven right into one of the largest traffic jams in our own history.....causing regrettably much worry for our eldest child, Paul and wife Delise.... and in trying to get help by phone from the proper officials, Paul made his first references to us as "his elderly parents" being stranded somewhere in a snowstorm.) We were indeed stranded for many, many hours....but not deterred eventually from going forward. Happy Howard on the road again. Watch out, world! His capacity for fun, his love of life always obvious every day...in every way.....especially in his chasing of the snow.

Once too, in earlier years the two had realized all too late they'd gotten in "over our heads" in a snowfall in Highlands, N. C. A bit over the top even for the most avid snow chasers.This snowstorm left us and many others unable to travel except by foot near our motel, without heat, without food for three days. Then at the mercy of kind restaurant owners across the street we were brought warm food throughout the days. Not even this experience permanently dampened the Knight's enthusiasm for very long. Still the adventurer, the happy trouper.

Sometimes... with what seemed just sheer luck....snows would unexpectedly come to an area when they happened to be in Asheville, or Blowing Rock, N. C....several times on beautiful Mt. Pisgah where there is an Inn at the peak of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mountain seemed to create its' own storm sometimes, much to the pleasure of snow loving Howard, and we would feel especially blessed finding safe haven at the top of the mountain, relishing the warmth and comfort of our little room, loving the sound of the whistling winds outside our window. "Hey, Baby" Sweet Howard would say," we made it to the top one more time...ain't it great?" Mission accomplished....for now. (The adjoining restaurant which sits atop the very peak of this Mt. Pisgah provides a beautiful view of the mountain range and offers candlelit tables covered with white linens....and our favorite food while in those hills... mountain trout. Usually, Howard the Knight through his renowned form of gallantry could arrange seating by the huge glassed windows. Paula always felt that kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland had only added a bit of spark to his charming manner.)

Once, without a prior plan as was often the case with us, we began our journey and found ourselves driving further and further north.... at least once ending up on Lake Michigan where we drove around the frozen lake watching ice fisherman sit patiently awaiting their catch... ultimately venturing on to see the frozen Niagara Falls, an unbelievable,massive ice sculpture in the midst of winter. Some of our friends questioned our sanity during our escapades and it became a common theme among many to remark that they knew we were headed north if they saw a snow forecast any place in the eastern United States. Still, it seemed, others did sometimes appreciate our sense of adventure.

Having seen the Alps in Switzerland, memories of Grindelwald bold and strong, last Sunday's snow in Macon, GA. was even more welcomed. Life,.... BEING,.... seeing another snowfall....how magnificent the pleasure, a sight never more beautiful than that beheld by Howard's "new eyes" last Sunday outside our bedroom window.

To Be Continued...