It was 47 years ago yesterday- that I left Ann Arbor with some 40+ inches of snow on the ground. Leaving my Mustang behind, it having been stolen twice before while I resided in greater Boston. Taking my “relatively” brand new Dodge Dart on a 1000 mile trek to Charlottesvillle, VA, departing at 9 AM.
It was snowing in Michigan, Still snowing in Ohio, (This would be the last time I paid my toll in pennies just to tick off the Ohio authorities.) Snowing in West Virginia. Snowing in Pennsylvania. I t even snowed in Maryland. Because of the snow, this was one of my longest treks, having been limited to 40 mph most of the time.
When I finally reached the Virginia line, the snow had dissipated. But, I was no longer traveling on the interstates- instead, I was using the highways and (mostly the) byways between the border and Charlottesville.
I finally reached the Econo Lodge, opposite University Hall on US 29 a few minutes before 11 pm. I turned on the TV to find my choice was Channel 29 or Channel 29, So, that’s what I watched.
As I decompressed, i heard the announcer declare: “There’s a chance of snow tomorrow and schools will be closed”.
That, in a nutshell, explained the culture changes to which I was about to be subjected. Michigan never closed school for snow. Ding, ding, ding.
But, it also meant I had another day to find my bearings. But, it was over the course of a few months that I really learned how different this place ws from the rest of America.
Jews were accepted if they hid away.
My (now ex-) wife was barred from teaching (until we sued) because she was a ‘damned Yankee’ and a “jew”.
Or a realtor trying to sell us a house, used the following joke….
“Y’all know the difference between a Yankee and a damned Yankee?”
No, Jackson, I don’t.
“A Yankee is Northerner. A damned Yankee is one of you Mother f..ers who moves down here to live”.
Charlottesville was such a special place…
WOW, what a awakening you must have had moving there. As for the Snow I love it but prefer being inside not outside in it. Are you still there and has it gotten better or worse?
I moved away some three decades ago.
What a drive you had….. and so much to endure once you arrived. We still hear the Yankee question in SC. How sad that your ex was barred from teaching!
Yeah. Things have gotten marginally better.
Wow, Roy! Your experience with the snow evokes memories of my drive from Los Angeles to New York back in the Fall of 1987, and your experience in Charlottesville reminds me of one of the presentations I heard yesterday. Hopefully, things have gotten better over the years.
WE can all hope, Florence.
Your post swamped me with feelings.. first, sad that you and your family had to face all that; second, sadder that this can still be true even today; third, glad for your strength and the power in your words always; and last, smiling at the little piece where you talk about schools closing due to snow (my son’s college classes started two days later than they had to after winter break – first two days canceled due to the storm.. we here in California sure don’t know how to handle rain after years of drought – myself included – though we are all glad for it)..
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Vidya.
Some people may not believe what you just wrote, but I believe every word. I had an interesting time living in Kansas in the late 1970’s (husband’s military service) and Arkansas in the 1980’s. Actually, because of my last name (my husband is of Italian descent) people thought I was Italian, which led to its own set of interesting….um, beliefs about me. And, sadly, a lot of the hate we both experienced in our lives (you more than me) is still out there, and growing by the day.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Alana.