NANCY LOEWEN
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An (Arctic) Blast from the Past

12/22/2022

7 Comments

 
 As I write this, we’re on the brink of a widespread winter storm warning. Here in St. Paul, the temperature today has ranged from -5 to -13, and the wind is expected to pick up, creating blizzard conditions and dangerously low windchills. Across the country, weather forecasters have been calling this the coldest Christmas in roughly 40 years.

Thirty-nine years ago, almost to the day, I was stranded in my car during a similar blizzard. I learned a little something about cold and wind—and also about warmth and love.
 
Here’s a piece I wrote as an undergrad at Mankato State University. It was published in Muse, the student literary magazine. And here is the coat in the story. In all of my moves since then, I’ve always kept it tucked away in the back of my closet. It’s a little moth-eaten by now, but I have no plans to discard it. 

And now I think I need to call my mom. Read the piece and you'll know why. :)

​You can access the PDF here 
or keep reading below. (Sorry about the blurry type; I think it's a Weebly thing.)
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Winter 1986
7 Comments
Sheryl Esau
12/23/2022 09:39:40 am

Wow! I can totally visualize everything you went through, including your mom with a cat. An incredible story. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Karen Henry Clark link
12/23/2022 11:58:02 am

I read this while wind roars outside and frost covers my window. We're something of a "blizzard" for us. So I felt this wonderful essay. What a joy for us all that you survived.

Reply
Sonja Johnston
12/23/2022 03:08:16 pm

Oh Nancy, this touched me so. I related completely to your experience even though I never faced such a fearful situation. Your writing ability brings the reader into your “now” and causes her/him to experience the emotions the writer is describing. Superb, exceptional writing.

Reply
John N link
12/23/2022 10:06:19 pm

Thanks for sharing with us. After a few paragraphs, you had me hooked.

Reply
Carol Flaming
12/24/2022 08:36:35 am

Wow! Well written. We Minnesota people understand what you wrote about. That you very much for sharing.

Reply
Mary B
12/24/2022 08:34:07 pm

Oh my. This was both terrifying and engaging to read. Nature and humans. A precious relationship and one to be respected.

Reply
Brenda Feil
12/26/2022 09:04:48 pm

So well written Nancy! I felt as if I were right there with you! As a fellow Minnesotan I can totally relate to your circumstances.

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    Nancy Loewen

    is a children's book author, editor, tutor, mom of two adult children and one feisty cat, and collector of weird things.  
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"Books are the plane, and the train, and the road.
They are the destination, ​and the journey. They are home."
​   ​~ Anna Quindlen
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