Brian’s fitness journal after a brain stroke
Nashville is preparing for an unusually dramatic ice rain storm, and, like any good plot twist, it has immediately begun rearranging our carefully planned schedule.
Today, we rescheduled Artemis’s vet appointment. She has a screening examination before her spaying surgery on Monday, which is already stressful enough without adding meteorological chaos into the mix. The original appointment was set for Saturday, but unfortunately.
Tennessee, charming as it is, is not exactly famous for its snow-handling infrastructure. A single hint of ice and the entire transportation system behaves like a startled cat. To make matters more complicated, the main road near our house is currently barricaded, leaving us with the scenic (and alarmingly hilly) back road as our only route to the vet. My wife mentioned that one of her colleagues had an accident on that very road years ago due to slippery conditions. Comforting information, truly.
Snow Preparation
We were originally expecting snow on Friday, so my wife—who approaches weather like a seasoned general—asked me on Thursday afternoon if I could take her after work. She even negotiated leaving fifteen minutes early with her boss, who agreed immediately.
Now, the real uncertainty lies with Monday. Artemis’s surgery may or may not proceed depending on how severe the weather becomes. Snow in Nashville is not just snow; it is an existential logistical challenge. A few years ago, a storm trapped us at home for over a week because the steep hill in front of our house turned into a skating rink.
Naturally, my wife—being from Canada—has already taken preventative measures. She salted our driveway and even lightly salted the road in front of the house.
We are also planning a grocery trip on Saturday morning, just in case the storm decides to overachieve. Meanwhile, my sister, who lives an hour away, has purchased a sled in preparation, which feels both practical and slightly theatrical.
Interestingly, while my wife is perfectly comfortable driving in snow due to her Canadian background, she insists that the real danger here is not the snow itself—but the roads and the drivers.
So, for now, we wait, we prepare, and we politely negotiate with the weather—because in Nashville, a winter storm does not just change the forecast. It rewrites the entire weekly schedule.