Hey everyone,
Let me tell you about yesterday—it was one for the books! Around 3 p.m., it started snowing here in Georgia, and by the time I got off work at 5, it was coming down hard. I live just 10 to 15 minutes away from work, but traffic was so bad that I ended up stuck in my car all night.
Thankfully, I had filled up my gas tank that morning and had heat in the car. I also grabbed food from the restaurant where I work before leaving, which turned out to be a blessing. Still, being stuck for hours gave me so much to think about. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the truck drivers on the road and, especially, for those without shelter. I can’t imagine what they go through on nights like this.
At one point, I thought about walking home—it’s not far—but it was dark, cold, and icy. Instead, I stayed in the car, turning it on and off to conserve gas while keeping warm. I had two phones with me, and while one died, the other stayed fully charged thanks to my car charger.
All I could do was pray. I prayed for safety, for people not to wreck, and for the night to pass. I dozed off here and there, and when morning finally came, the sun brought a little relief. But I really needed to use the bathroom, so I decided to walk home. It took me about 35 to 40 minutes because I had to take it slow on the icy roads, but I made it. By the time I walked in, I was frozen to the bone.
The heat in my house felt like the greatest gift ever. I took a two-hour nap to recover before a friend came to help me retrieve my car.
Looking back, I’m just so grateful. Things could have been so much worse, and I’m thankful for the people who checked on me throughout the night. This experience reminded me not to take little things like gas, heat, and shelter for granted.
For those reading this, if it snows, please get home as quickly and safely as possible. And let’s remember to keep others—especially those without shelter—in our thoughts and prayers.
Stay safe and warm, and thanks for following my journey.
– Cece
