Preparing For the Worst So That You Don’t Ruin a New Pair of Shoes

On January 28, 2014, I was one of the many Atlantans who had to ditch their car and take to the ice cold streets. 

Here is what happened:  After 8 hours in the car, covering maybe only 4 miles distance, I still was nowhere near my destination. So I had decisions to make.  Should I park alongside the highway or find a trustworthy street to leave my car?  I opted for the actual street and prayed the whole way until I found a Hardee’s restaurant.  As I gathered my things to make the two-mile hike to my condo, I realized I had no gloves, no flats and no socks.  All I had was an all-weather coat and these awesomely precious Corporate Moxie blue suede pumps!

So how did I end up driving in this weather? Just like many others, I heard the reports of snow, but I thought I would be okay.  Besides, I was going to be inside the office, inside the car, and then inside the garage. The only places I needed to be.  Inside.   Then came half-past noon, and the snow began to stick.  I sent out an email to close the office for the remainder of the day, and then I shuffled my staff out the door.  So there I was.  It was early afternoon now; unbeknownst to me, traffic was already crazy. My treacherous journey would not be over until 9:15pm.

At Hardee’s I left my car and began to walk home.  My adrenaline was pumping.  I was not scared, but I was very aware of my surroundings. I had to track the snow, with every step avoiding the slippery ice.  The sidewalk was deadly by now.

There were others who were forced to pull off the road and hike their way home.  I noticed, every one of them looked at me then looked at my awesomely precious shoes, and they smiled.  I did not mind.  I did not think anything of it.  I had to keep going to make it up the hill and cross two major, ice-covered intersections.  I slipped quite a few times, but I never fell. 

My heels, as you can see, virtually anchored me into the ground like ice hooks. These shoes battled the worst of the worst weather and I finally made it to my condo.  All in all, they were an insignificant price to pay in comparison to frost bitten feet or a fractured bone, as many if not most women take their heels off when they have to walk a long distance.  My Corporate Moxie wouldn’t allow it, and I found myself sound asleep that night in my own warm bed.  

As I was reflecting on my harrowing experience, I began to think about the anxiety and uncertainty I experienced.  I was very thankful to have made it home, but I was also disappointed in myself because I usually am prepared for any situation. So I decided to get my old gym bag ready, and I made a list of what I would need in order to make it through another event like this, should it ever happen again.  These items are what I have in my bag now, which is perfectly situated in the trunk of my car:

• Tennis shoes
  
  
• Jeans
  
  
• Socks
  
  
• Gloves
  
  
• Knit hat
  
  
• Blanket
  
  
• Towel
  
  
• Toilet Paper
  
  
• Feminine Products (being very transparent here!)
  
  
• Bottled water
  
  
• Rain poncho (left over from my trip to Guatemala)
  
  
• Flashlight
  
  
• Cash
  
  

Instead of going around pointing fingers at the department of transportation or anyone else, what I have decided to do is take the necessary steps to ensure that I am prepared for the next storm!

Did I forget anything?  How would you prepare for a snowstorm or any storm? Tweet me @CoprorateMoxie or Facebook: Corporate Moxie

---