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Gift Guide 2018

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Reznick, Maxwell & Wyoming Sem downs Newport for 7th field hockey state title

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; It usually takes me less than a half hour to drive from my home in Plains Township to the homeland, Plymouth Borough.</p><p>On Thursday evening, it took me one hour and 45 minutes.</p><p>Yes, that was the day of the snowstorm that dropped anywhere from 8 to 16 inches of the white stuff across Luzerne County, a lot of it coming right at rush hour. As people tried to get home from work, the snow just kept falling, causing all sorts of traffic snarls on those highly driven roadways.</p><p>Now there are all sorts of drivers out there, some who are excellent in any weather condition, others who are OK in rain and then those who simply cannot handle snow &#8212; and they were everywhere Thursday evening.</p><p>Vehicles with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive seemed to handle slippery snow-covered roads the best. Not as good as those trucks, mind you, especially the ones with plows on the front.</p><p>Anyway, the old adage is that if you don&#8217;t have to go out, stay home until the roads are cleared, salted and manageable again.</p><p>On Thursday, I absolutely had to be someplace &#8212; at my weekly Fantasy Football meeting in Plymouth.</p><p>The meeting starts promptly at 7 p.m., so to be on the safe side, I left my house at 5:30 p.m. to give me plenty of time to get there &#8212; or so I thought. What followed was an adventure I never care to repeat.</p><p>But I made it, albeit 15 minutes late. After all, I had to make several changes to my team. By the way, this league is old school &#8212; no computer website &#8212; just hard copy stats and accounting. It&#8217;s a really cool league and we have had basically the same members since we first organized. And it is very competitive.</p><p>So off I went, down to River Street, turning left and no traffic ahead &#8212; until I got to the West Carey Street intersection. Cars were bumper to bumper, but the situation did not appear to be nearly as bad as the traffic heading toward Pittston &#8212; that line was much longer.</p><p>After being stopped for a half hour, I decided to take a chance. I bolted up a snow-covered hill and made my way to Main Street and then I headed to the Oakies, trying to get around all the traffic and head for Old Shawnee. It looked like I made the right call, until I got to the foot of the hill at the Oakies and a plow truck was blocking the way. I was told several cars were stuck on the hilly stretch ahead, leaving one lane open and that was currently occupied by another plow truck heading my way.</p><p>I was advised that I could be hit head-on if I tried to get through.</p><p>OK, thanks for the warning. I now headed to Maffett Street, turning left and heading toward the Cross Valley Expressway intersection. Again, traffic was snarled, but we got through and I managed to get past the traffic, narrowly missing an abandoned car that some poor soul had to leave in the middle of the road because the car conked out.</p><p>Now I was clear again and drove down River Street, over the Veterans Memorial Bridge to Pierce Street and out to Wyoming Avenue. Another left-hand turn and away I went. I was sure to make my meeting. And I would have except that Route 11 just past Kmart was backed up for a mile. I made a U-turn and went back to Northampton Street.</p><p>Again, I turned left and headed up Main Street in Edwardsville. This is where my extensive knowledge of the West Side came in handy. I drove up Main Street, which turns into Jackson Street, then down State Street in Larksville &#8212; commonly known as the back road to Plymouth. I reached West Shawnee Avenue and everything was clear.</p><p>And then my phone rang. &#8220;Where are you?&#8221; was the question from the Fantasy League person. I told him I would be there in five minutes, and I was, arriving at 7:15 p.m., sharp.</p><p>I got settled, made my changes and left for home at just after 8 p.m. The return drive was easy &#8212; the roads were clear and traffic had eased considerably.</p><p>As I look back at my drive to the meeting, I can&#8217;t help but wonder if everybody got home safely. It was clear commuters really didn&#8217;t expect what happened.</p><p>I saw fear on the faces of several drivers, and I saw anger. I also saw an amazing effort by all those plowing the snow out of our way.</p><p>Most of us dream of a white Christmas. But never of a white &#8212; and blustery, snowy, icy mix, low vision &#8212; drive home at rush hour.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bill O&#8217;Boyle </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Columnshot-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bill O&#8217;Boyle </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle, or email at boboyle@www.timesleader.com.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Beyond the Byline: Snowy night was no fantasy