The winter of ’86…….SNOW BLOW…SNOW BLOW!  That’s the way winters in Ohio usually pan out. We have been very blessed the last two years with mild winters….Don’t get used to it….You know Ohio….Just say’n. LOLOL!

         Our boys were  11/9/2. The 2 oldest ones had their routine when they got home from school. Here was their regimen: snack/playtime/tv/homework/dinner/chores. However, if you know about kids on the farm, chores and playtime coincide.

    After the Blizzard of’78, everyone was aware of the following: one could easily get lost and perish in a snowstorm. Nevertheless, farm boys often push the limits.

     Tom was milking and called into the house around 7pm. “Send the boys out for chores, Mom.” They put on all of their snow paraphernalia, and headed towards the barn ….or so I thought.

       About an hour later, he called in again. ”Where’s the boys?”  I was freaking out!  I went to the back door and yelled, which was totally ridiculous. The wind was overbearing and howling like a banshee. Next, I used my very loud sports whistle, still to no avail. There was no sign of them.

   We both began to worry. My mom brain was thinking the very worst. I know that the boys loved to play in the deep ditches and cover themselves up with piles of snow. Could they literally be buried, where no one could find them?

   Tom alerted me and told me to call Guy, our neighbor, to bring his searchlights and lamps.  Behold, another Roberts to the rescue.

When he arrived, as usual in his crazy, jovial manner, he consoled me. ”Don’t worry, Susie Girl. We’ll find them. They’re out here just being boys.”

   It wasn’t 15 minutes later, Tom called into the house and told me they found them. After chores were done, and the men walked the boys to the house, I dealt out the hot chocolate, with tear filled eyes.

  MY first words, ”If you ever!” Tom quickly replied, ”Calm down ,Mother.  They knew where they were. Just being boys.”

   Our oldest son convinced me that he knew exactly where they were, and what was going on.  “Too bad I didn’t,” I exclaimed tearfully.

  Oh ! We had the big talk about responsibility, and always filling mom in on the plan.

    That wasn’t the first time one of the Roberts Clan came to our rescue, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.