Mukilteo Musings

The Christmas From Hell

'Twas 1990 and "Home Alone" was the smash hit of the season. Dave and I and the kids, Lucas, 5 and Kaley, 2 went to see the movie and thought little Kevin had had the worst Christmas ever but little did we know.....

Record cold had hit the Puget Sound area with temperatures nearing zero and Montana was even colder at minus 30 degrees F. We are not talking wind chill but the actual temperature of the air. Nevertheless, I thought it was important to drive to Montana for Christmas to spend time with our families. As we approached Helena, our Jeep made noises I had never heard before. Thirty below does strange things to metal. The roads were not great but we made it.

First, it was Lucas. He was prone to ear infections and a small cold in combination with breathing minus 30 degree air sent every little bug in his head immediately to his ears. Late one night, with Lucas screaming in pain, we ventured through deep snow and plunging temperatures to the one and only emergency room in Helena. Lucas was bundled up to the point he could not breathe. Are we experiencing Christmas joy, yet?

Second, it was Kaley. She managed a significant fever for no apparent reason. Somehow my in-laws seemed to think she could still stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve. Uh oh, tension began to percolate between hubby and me. "Just dose her up with Tylenol--she'll be just fine!" We are supposed to be feeling JOYFUL.

Third, it was nine of us staying in my Mom's tiny two bedroom house. Diarrhea! At least we kept her plumbing going in the subzero weather. The last person to be afflicted was Dave immediately before we embarked on our 12 hour journey through ice and snow back to Seattle. Oh, I just wanted my own bathroom and to have some peace and quiet while I drank tea. Isn't Christmas fun?

Fourth, it was the roads. The drive back was agonizing. My fear above every thing else is icy roads, blizzards while driving, white out conditions---I'm beginning to sweat just writing this. I think it stems from our Christmas trips from Helena to Deer Lodge to visit my Grandma. Fifty-six miles is all but McDonald Pass is in between. When I was little, it was a windy, two lane road with no guard rails; my imagination would see our car upside down in the snowy depths hundreds of feet below. Nothing ever actually happened to us but my brain still doesn't know that. So for twelve hours, I crouched in terror as we crawled along letting myself breathe only when we'd stop at every gas station while Dave scrambled to use the facilities. 100 miles from Seattle, large trucks slid off the freeway and Snoqulamie Pass was closed. Holiday travelers were required to take a windy, narrow, two lane detour through the Cascade Mountains where waterfalls were frozen in place. It was New Year's Eve and this cannot CANNOT be happening.

Finally, over the mountains and down into Seattle where we saw our beloved water surrounded by sparkling lights everywhere. All we wanted was our brand new house where we had only lived for a year, a bottle of champagne, some wood for a cozy fire, and some more Pepto-bismal. After a quick stop at the store, we pulled into our drive way. Can we celebrate now?

Fifth, it was the coldest and snowiest Christmas the Puget Sound area had ever had. In fact, to this day it is the last white Christmas in Seattle. The temperatures from December 1990 are still the record. Lucas said his friends even now talk about this tidbit of Seattle culture. Everybody remembers the Christmas of 1990 because it snowed in Seattle and WE MISSED IT. The record cold caused the pipes to freeze in our brand new house and water was rushing down our driveway. As we stepped inside, torrents were coming out of our light fixtures and our Christmas tree with the dough ornaments the kids had made was a mushy mess. Lucas grabbed his rain coat with the hood and excitedly thought maybe the "Home Alone" burglars had hit our house. But me...I....sobbed and sobbed.

It took four months--four months to replace ceilings, dry wall, wood floors, and every inch of the carpet. We found a Residence Inn nearby that New Year's Eve and they had a fire place and allowed dogs; and had good rates for long term stays. The good news was that insurance covered everything. Our contractor was caring, kind and creative and we managed to install upgraded carpets and wallpaper. Our brand new house turned out to be even more beautiful than before...Seattle's last white Christmas.

And...we have never again driven to Montana for Christmas.