Look at this!

I grew up in Bend, so a lot of snow is not new to me, but holy crap! I don't remember the last time I've seen so much.

We're supposed to drive to Bend tomorrow and everyone thinks we should stay home, except for my dad, of course. I think he's a little frustrated with me for being so concerned about it, but I don't want something to happen and be stuck in the snow with the baby. We have an all-wheel-drive Subaru and chains, but it's low to the ground and with so much snow it would be easy to get high-centered. And, actually, I'm not so concerned about the pass as I am about getting to the pass. They maintain the pass pretty well, but they don't maintain the roads here very well. Not like I was used to in Bend.

I certainly don't want to be stuck here for Christmas, but that drive to Bend is going to be long and stressful. For me, anyways. Neil is not worried about it. He worked a 24 hour shift yesterday on the transport team for the Emanuel Children's Hospital and he had to drive to Astoria and back. Highway 26 to the coast is closed, so he had to take Hwy 30 through St. Helens. He was in an ambulance with studs and chains so he didn't have any problems, but I was super worried about him. In the end he ended up losing two chains, his windshield wipers broke and a switch thing that keeps the baby warm in the back of the bus broke, so they had to bring him a new vehicle to the hospital after he got back. He went on another call later at night to Vancouver and they didn't put chains in his new vehicle! He made it okay, but said it was pretty dangerous.

So...I guess as long as Neil is fine with driving tomorrow, we'll be heading to Bend. It's hard to stay positive right now, but I'm trying! It is beautiful out there. Welcome to winter.

Love,
Aislinn