It all started out on February 1, the night of the big blizzard. We have a small group of men that play cards on the first and second day of the month. Well, February 1st was the day, and we responded. Dave Curd, whose house is in neighbor 18, suggested we carpool so our cars would not get plowed in. So I volunteered. I picked up three other men, and we went to Dave’s, arriving at 6 p.m. We normally play to 12 midnight, however we decided to quit at 11.
We got outside and it didn’t seem to be too bad. I have a Ford Explorer. I thought the higher vehicle would make it through the snow. We started out on Arlington Drive in neighbor 18 and took Frank Lechocki home first on Flowerwood Lane. At times we were the snowplow with snow coming over the hood. We found out that we had to look out both front windows and steer by keeping between the mailboxes. We reached Frank’s; however, I strongly suggested we get to my house on Westmore in neighbor 28, which we tried, and worried if we would make it home.
We crossed Countryview and missed turning on Burham. So we got out the GPS so we could find the streets, which we did. We turned on Wilshire and then onto Bloomfield. After two houses, we couldn’t go any farther. We left Dave’s at 11, traveling 5 blocks, and it was now 1 a.m. and we burned a half-tank of gas. I called both the Fire and Police Departments and a towing service. They could not come out to help us. So I said we better start knocking on doors. I finally raised a couple not too far from our car, and they invited us in. After walking through three feet of snow, falling down and requiring a lift up, we were all wet. They offered us dry paints and socks. Jerry and Fran Kolet were like angels to us. Mrs. Kolet quickly made us hot tea and we sat and talked till 2 a.m. They then got us blankets, and the three of us slept in their living room that night.
The next morning they had coffee for us and breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon. The plow did come by early morning, so we dug out my vehicle. After saying good bye, we traveled to our next destination, on Russet Lane in neighbor 37. The streets were not plowed very well, so we got stuck at Copperwynd and Scarlet. We were only 1 block from our destination, so we walked to George Marcotte’s house. George started to clear out his drive when the snowplow came by, and George ran into the house with the good news. George walked to my vehicle and brought it to his house after being pulled out by some boys.
I then drove to Jerry Jamnik’s house on Verbend in neighbor 28. However, his street had never been plowed. The snow plow made a 4-foot high bank, which he could not get over. So it was to my house in the same neighborhood, and we waited for the snow plow.
The experience was full of adventure, and we all felt good to be home. However, to the Kolets, who let three men into their home at 1 in the morning, they deserve our utmost appreciation. There are good people in the world. We were grateful that they are all in Sun City.
