The last time a snowstorm of epic proportions was predicted, it was Winter 1999, and I was sharing an apartment in Lakeview with my brother. It was both my first year living as a resident in Chicago proper and a college freshman. I openly scoffed at the weather reports, and despite the knee high snow I trudged through in a failed attempt to extricate my Volkswagen, the CTA delivered me on time to class (a fucking theater class no less).
My efforts were all for naught (class was canceled) but I learned an important lesson: don't doubt the surreal nature of Chicago meteorology. That damn storm still ranks as #2, in terms of accumulation, 19+ inches to be more or less exact. It took weeks for the "City That Works" to get back to normal after that. [Side note - I got a 'get out of jail free card' for showing up to class, and I abused the shit out of it once Spring bothered to show up].
Anyways...I'm up at 4AM for 2 reasons; I really fucking enjoy how quiet the city gets when impending DOOM descends, and well, it's just desperately pretty how the landscape changes with even a light dusting of powdery snow. Did I mention I like Winter? I do...except when it's a bitch and I'm waiting for a Western Avenue bus with wind gusts defeating my many layers. It's a hell of a lot better than the humid Summer months common to metropolis' built upon swamps.
Oh right, so, in reference to the title of this post, if you're flying on United, American or Southwest tomorrow, the day after or the day after that, pack a lunch, a book and The Patience of a Saint, because your flights have already been canceled. You. Are. Fucked. This STORM, and by extension, this city has you by the BALLS. Or not. My preferred weatherman, local ABC 7's Jerry Taft is usually fucking hammered and/or easily distracted.
Safe travels all. This includes myself, as my work shift begins/coincides almost exactly with when the Shit is supposed to hit the fan. If the bar doesn't close early...I don't even want to think about it. Let's just say I might really put my Timberland's through their paces. Or maybe I'll have a much vaunted snow day! How fucking GRAND would that be? I'm not crossing any fingers however.
