I Remember, Do You?
It started with a few flakes, but by nightfall it was the heaviest snowfall I've ever seen in my life.
And it was 20 years ago today.
Yes, 20 years ago today
I was 22 years old then. And I had work ethic back then, I'll tell you. I was living in St. Francis, MN, in an apartment complex. It was my senior year at the University of Minnesota. I worked for the U of M Food Services, and my main job was running a little coffee shop Monday through Friday. I had to open the shop early morning on November 1st.
Yes, I actually attempted to drive the 40 miles to Minneapolis to do my job.
I didn't make it out of the apartment parking lot, though.
I remember waking up in the middle of the night and looking out the living room window and I couldn't believe how hard it was snowing. I set my alarm an hour earlier to give myself more time to get to work.
That morning, well before daylight, I remember attempting to get to my garage, wading through heavy snow that was mid-thigh on me (I am 6'1").
I remember thinking, "I'm never going to make it to work."
I actually shoveled out the front of my garage, only to shake my head at nearly two feet of snow that packed the rest of the parking lot.
I was right, I didn't make it to work.
In fact, that winter of 1991-1992, St. Francis, MN set the state record for the most snowfall in one location: 53.52 inches. And I was right there in the middle of it.
And it all started 20 years ago today.
