The call came around nine thirty. And, because of the snow, I was home to answer.

A co-worker. Co-worker of the wife's, not mine.

This is not good. Unless she's calling to argue about cougars and montain lions being the same thing again.

Is everything all right?

"Yeah, everybody's fine..."

"But we're here at the Emergency Room..."

Ohh, chit.

Seems the wife slipped and fell. On a wet floor at the door to their office. Landed on her knee. Nothing broken, but she needs to keep it elevated with ice packs. Can't hardly do that and work, too. The friend'll bring the wife home. Only reason they called is, can I ride back to town to bring the Explorer home? Otherwise two people will have to take off from work to ferry both the wife and car home.

Yep. I can do that. Relieved that the wife is okay, I'd drive across half the state if needed.

Since the snow denied us of any strutting ground surveys, the heelers and I have been sleeping in. Guess I'd better get dressed. And shaved.

Which was all done before the wife and friend arrived fifteen minutes later. Even had the steps shoveled, and the walk to the driveway.

A full six inches, and still falling. Guess they were right about the winter storm, if only a day early.

Once in town, had to shovel the wife's SUV to get it out. Not that the snow that had accumulated that much in just two hours, but the inch-thick layer of wet ice underneath. Tires refused to pull out away from the curb until I got them on asphalt.

Winter storm, indeed.

Needless to say, the heelers have been enjoying the laying in bed all day with the wife. If it wasn't for the snow deeper than butt height when they squat to pee, they'd call this heaven.