It was November 28, 2013. I had just, 1 hour previously, finished a treacherous trip through the Rocky Mountains taking some young Australians to a mountain resort. They were there to begin a season as lifties.
For the next 5 months they would have the time of their lives, I assume. Lifties by day, party animals by night. It's a tale as old as time.
However for me, I had to drive back late at night through a dangerous passage in the mountains in a blizzard. At one point I almost hit a deer running across the highway. He looked at me, accusingly. 5 minutes later I came across a road check. The police officer asked me "Are you sure you want to be on this highway tonight."
I did not.
So I went to a 7-11.
I used the pay phone there to call someone and tell them that the blizzard was too much. I wouldn't make it back to the hotel I was supposed to stay at that night. I just wanted people to know that I was ok. I found a local motel and had shelter for the night.
Turned out nobody noticed, or cared.
Such is life.
