Friday, February 19, 2010

Not exactly how I would like to spend twelve hours on my back...

Several weeks ago, Mount Shasta, CA had a significant storm. With no electricity or heat, one of the town residents put on several layers of clothes, packed a small bag of necessities, grabbed a ski pole and set out to the Best Western Tree House Motor Inn for both a meal and a warm place to stay. Because of the storm, the roads were obstructed so she opted to walk. But she never made it. Instead, she fell in the snow and could not get up. And there she stayed. For TWELVE hours. Priscilla Dawson was found, and is now ok. And I got a little kick out of the article.    

1. She said she knew she wouldn’t die, she was just going to be there awhile.

Bless your heart (in a good way) Priscilla Dawson, because I for one might be a bit overcome by fright when trapped outside in snow thick enough to make the roads impassable. Once I got over that fright, there would be a hot mess of bitchery stemming from the fact I was trapped outside in a pile of snow with just an extra pair of long johns and a bag of necessities that are not remotely necessities when you are TRAPPED OUTSIDE IN THE SNOW. A toothbrush isn’t digging me out of any snow hole. 

2. Once she knew she couldn’t move, she gazed at the night sky and said, “It was beautiful, with the snow softly falling. And even though it was snowing, and then raining, I saw (the constellation) Cassiopeia."

Bless your heart (in a good way) Priscilla Dawson. Because while I too would accept my predicament of being trapped in the snow, I can't say my initial thoughts would be centered on making snow angels or appreciating the fluffy snowflakes. In fact, after the aforementioned hot mess of bitchery, I would likely not begin to appreciate the snowflakes and constellations until about 11.5 hours into my ordeal. 

3. Once she was discovered, and rushed to the ER, she was completely fine with only the smallest touch of frostbite on her fingers. She likened this to being in excellent shape and that she has always been a “very athletic person.”

You have been promoted to Badass, Priscilla. I hope that when I am 83, I am in such great physical shape that I can survive being stuck in a snow pile for twelve hours AND overnight and walk away with only a touch of frostbite. I hope at 83 I am not laying in the snow saying things like, “Where the _____ is everyone????” And “I AM COLD!” If going to spend twelve hours on my back, there would be several things I would choose as the genesis. SNOWSTORM not one of them.

4. Finally, she said she was never concerned about her predicament. “After all, I grew up in Iowa.” (Good job, Iowa winters, you have finally proven yourself good for something.) And she said once she was found, and confirmed ok, the calls began to come in from so many people, in so many places who had heard of her ordeal. “Of course, my children were hysterical. But I kept telling them I am fine. Now they want me to carry a cell phone, but I am not really a cell phone person.”

Now you are promoted to Queen of the BadAsses, Priscilla. I hope that when I am 83, I am in such great mental shape that I can survive twelve hours in the snow simply reflecting on some cold winters and watching the time pass by. Something tells me, I would not be as peaceful. And I love that you call your children hysterical and won’t get a cell phone because you don’t want one. I know your family must have been worried, but I have a feeling you are not going anywhere anytime soon. After all, you are an 83 year old bad ass. And certainly, someone watching over you thinks so too.

99 comments:

Stacey said...

It's stories like that that make me think perhaps my life of constant multi-tasking should be put on hold to enjoy the moment. I also hope I am as badass as Priscilla when I am 83!

Simply Suthern said...

That was a whole other generation of people. Nothing came easy to them. And they didnt go down easily. I bet she could sit down and tell some tales. Kudos to you Priscilla. I bet they dont call her Prissy.

Kat said...

Queen Badass. I have a feeling that Priscilla lives up to this title in every way. What a great story. But I'm with you, I'm quite sure that I would not have been nearly as calm and collected. Actually, I can guarantee it! Kathy

Jinksy said...

Nothing beats determination and a positive outlook! What a lesson for all of us.

Brian Miller said...

dang. me too!

the walking man said...

Bad to the bone Priscilla. Bad to the bone baby!!

Anonymous said...

At eighty three, would it be inappropriate to hold her to be a great example of "Girl Power"?

Special lady!

Slamdunk said...

Interesting story and creative approach to commenting on it.

I am also amazed that at 83 a snowstorm to the courageous woman means a ski and walking opportunity--neither would have crossed my mind.

Jules AF said...

WHAT?!?!? How is this possible?

Unknown said...

I second the bad ass nomination. Such are the women of the generation before ours. I would have panicked like no other...

Unknown said...

OK I agree with the nomination. Women in that era were made of different stock. I mean hello they had no tvs no phones, many no electric.. Goooooo mommaaa

Mom in High Heels said...

I love stories like this. If it had been me stuck in the snow, there would have been more bitchery than can be imagined. And I most likely would not have stopped to notice the beauty of the snow or the stars. I'd have been far to busy making up new words to truly express how pissed off I was.

Unknown said...

What an amazing story, and an equally amazing lady!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Love this story! Thanks for telling it and in such a funny 'bad ass' way! I hope at 83 I can be even half as strong physically and mentally!

Will Burke said...

I hope she has lots of kids & grand-kids, 'cause that's just good breeding-stock!

Leiah said...

Hell, I'm 45 and wish I was that physically & mentally fit! Thanks for sharing such a great story to start the weekend. Have a good one!

leigh hewett said...

We need to make T-shirts and bumper stickers that say...

What Would Priscilla Dawson Do?

Bossy Betty said...

This woman is my role model and my hero! Thanks for sharing her story.

Laura Trevey said...

Definitely deserving of the Queen of the BadAss award!!

Have a bright, bold, and beautiful weekend!
xoxo Laura

Andrea said...

Oh that is a great story! I hope to be a badass when I get older too.

As a fellow southerner, I understand what you mean by saying, "bless your heart...in a good way". It makes me laugh!

Anonymous said...

No kidding!! What a trooper!!

Writing Without Periods! said...

Love the story and am hoping in my next life I'm a "bad ass." I have a feelin' it's not happening this time around. :-)
Mary

Yankee Girl said...

What a champ! I hope I can be like her when I am older.

Anonymous said...

That IS badass. Rock on Priscilla! I'm sure when I'm stuck in a snow drift aged 83, a few gigantic expletives will be flying and I'll have the good sense to have a bottle of tequila in my pocket to keep me warm, until someone finds me and I can a) call them a c***s**cker for not finding me sooner, and b) whine a lot.

Come to think of it, if I got stuck in a snow drift say...tomorrow, I'd react exactly the same way!

carissajaded said...

Dude, what an awesome story!! I'm not sure I would have the power to stay confident in that situation. I've gotten my head trapped between two bars before at the zoo, and I thought even then that I wouldn't make it... High five and fist bumps to her!!

Unknown said...

OMG, Priscilla is amazing....great story!

Happy Friday :)

Kelly Marie said...

What a great story! I would not be so calm. At. All. I would be panicking for the whole 12 hours hah!

Red Shoes said...

I like the way your phrased "Bless her heart..." (in a good way)... LOL Being a life-long Southerner, that phrase is quite commonly used... My Mom could use it and make it sound so warm... so loving... so caring...

I say it and I sound like a smart ass... almost implying that the recipient can't help it...

I really dont mean it that way...

Really I don't...

As for Priscilla... You go, girl... I'm of the opinion that if we set our mind for something.. (such as survival) we CAN make it happen!!

~shoes~

Stepping On Cheerios said...

I hope I get to be an 83 year old badass someday!

Pearl said...

Now there's a person to be proud of. Hope I'm as capable at that age -- or any age, for that matter!

Pearl

foxy said...

I can only hope to reach that stage of badassery at some point in my life.

Nonflammable said...

"Where the _____ is everyone????" This is the best.

I know for a fact I would not remain calm. After an hour, my anger alone could propel me out of my trap.

Kristina P. said...

Priscilla sounds awesome!

Myya said...

Ummmm yeah TOTAL BADASS for sure!!!

Rebecca Knight said...

Leigh: I would TOTALLY buy one of those shirts :D! We need to make that dream a reality.

Thanks for sharing this, JennyMac! That woman is AWESOME drizzled in AWESOMESAUCE!

Jenn@ You know... that blog? said...

Wow! Amazing woman. That's what I wanna be when I grow up. If that ever happens.

Carma Sez said...

this is very inspiring, however, I hope never to be stuck in that predicament!! making snow angels? pffffft I'd be panicking and stomping through the snow like a mad woman.

BTW, you know how I admire your culinary skillz - Well, now you can get a glimpse of mine on my blog ;-)

brokenteepee said...

But what you don't know is what is in Priscilla's coffee every morning....right?

Uptown Girl said...

bless her seriously bad-ass heart. I am in awe.

Emily said...

Woah. Kudos to Priscilla. She definitely is a bada55...either that or she takes some awesome meds in her old age. ;)

Existential Waitress said...

That is very bad-ass. I would completely freak out and be like "I'm gonna DIE!!!!!" Hopefully I evolve a little over the next 43 years...

Stephanie said...

Wow! I truly wish I could be that half is glass full kind of girl, but alas, my stupid glass is half empty and has a freakin leak. Must work on getting some duct tape.

Brittany said...

What a great story! Forget about being 83 and being a badass like that.. I want to be 23 and a badass like that :-) That is one tough woman. She deserves an award or something for all that positive thinking!

HalfAsstic.com said...

I love the fact that she is, indeed, such as badass and her name is Priscilla. I bet no one ever calls her Prissy again.

JenJen said...

Imma be just like her when I'm old, I hope.
(yep, quoting B-E-P...)

Jen said...

She is badass. I get a "touch of frostbite on my fingers" from skiing in 10-degree weather for an hour -- with gloves!

Corrie Howe said...

Reminds me of my grandmother who feel and broke her leg. She waited for a little while for someone to find her (at 5:30 a.m. in Lubbock, TX). Then she crawled back home from her walk, got in the car and used her golf club for gas and braking the car. The arrive to the base hospital, driving by about five other emergency rooms.

Needless to say the doctors refused to release her until my mom drove up from Austin, Texas (8 hours away) and got her.

And she made everyone miserable, because she was like what you think you'll be like.

Ashley Stone said...

what a great story!! The title of your post made me LOL. She sounds like an awesome lady!

jenn w/ 2 n's said...

Priscilla, Queen of the Badasses indeed!!

If I'm ever "fine" in that kind of cold be sure to commit me to some nuthouse when you find me since I will have surely lost my mind.

I'm with you I'd be 1 pissed off B*tch!

Unknown said...

Excuse me?! She's 83?!!
Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's not human.
Probably a cyborg from the future...
Or an alien.

Ela said...

OMGoodness, she is my hero!!!
I'm gonna slap myself next time I say "it's cold" after a 5 minute walk to the car.

Happy weekend, J!!!

BigLittleWolf said...

Quite a tale! To be that stalwart at any age... much less at 83. Beyond admirable.

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

I grew up with Iowa winters, but I sure as hell wouldn't want to be stuck in a snowdrift for any amount of time. With my luck I'd be run over by a snowplow.

Unknown said...

Queen badass Pricilla. Such an uplifting story!

Unknown said...

CLearly I am anything but a badass since the weather in Breckenridge last weekend made me wanna stay indoors the whole weekend and never leave!

Confessions From A Work-At-Home Mom said...

I love how you clarified your intent of "bless your heart", since in the South, it definitely doesn't mean anything positive!

~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom

Anonymous said...

Wow Priscilla rocks!

Mrs. M said...

Very impressed! I will definitely be sure to stay in shape when I am 83. Ah, I'm sure in another 40 or so years they will be able to teleport so I'll just do that! :)

Brianne said...

Priscilla- get a cell phone please!!!

I hope I am in as good as shape as her too at 50 never mind 83!!!


Hi!- Found you through SITS!!

Ed said...

She sounds HOT!

Grand Pooba said...

That is just crazy! I commend that 83 year old queen of bad asses!

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

I’ve been complaining about below normal temperatures in Southwest Florida! Priscilla’s story makes me feel like a whiny toddler. I’m going to put on my big-girl panties and bite my tongue from now on (or at least the next day or two). You go, Priscilla!

Jaime said...

...and then you find out that the reason why she wasn't scared about her predicament and just enjoying the pretty snow was because she was drunk...or stoned... or both

Debby@Just Breathe said...

That is so amazing. Wow, I wish I cold be in that kind of shape.
Someone is watching her for sure!
Thank you for sharing this story.

DeNae said...

This is exactly how my mother (66) would handle this situation. She is the most amazing person I know. And her 75 year old sister would be just as resilient. I come from a long line of badass women. I must be such a disappointment to them.

Liz Aguerre said...

I think I'm in pretty decent athletic shape, but I can tell you without a doubt, that I would've died from a nervous breakdown and full blown panic after about, oh, say, 7 minutes...8 tops.

Herding Cats said...

What a rockstar. My anxiety would have anxiety if I was in her same situation.

Vinomom said...

Seriously if there has ever been a Queen of All Badasses story, this is one. I'd probably have given up on hour 3 and tried to smother myself with snow in utter despair.

THIS is what is wrong w/ our generation today! Myself included! Not enough Iowa Winters.

J.J. in L.A. said...

I loved this! And hope I'm an 83 year old bad ass someday...without the snowstorm, of course!

wendy said...

Awesome, that is my goal TO BE AN 83 YEAR OLD BAD ASS. Oh yeah
I don't have a cell phone.
did she pack any chocolate
and what about having to go to the bathroom ---I TOTALLY would have had to go to the bathroom.
imagine being 83, looking at the gorgeous stars and snow falling while you pee your pants.
Awesome.

secret agent woman said...

All that greatness at 83! Very impressive.

injaynesworld said...

That's a pretty amazing tale. Wouldn't you just love to see her interviewed on the "Ellen" show? What a hoot.

You rock, Granny girl!

shortmama said...

wow that is one tough lady!

Maria said...

Priscilla IS a bad ass! We can only hope that we could handle it with that much dignity, or at least keep our story straight when we are interviewed, keeping the crying and cussing parts to ourselves and take that to the grave!

Something Happened Somewhere Turning said...

Brilliant! Once again you've made me laugh my ass off and I almost cried laughing the second time around when I reread it to my wife.
"Good job, Iowa winters", too funny.
Have a good safe, warm weekend.

Ashley Stone said...

I'm sure you've received it before... but I left you something over at my place anyway! : )

Unknown said...

I think Pricilla was a bit frostbitten in the brain if you ask me. You get me out in the cold, buried in snow for even 20 minutes and I'm calling Jesus to get me out of there. I know for certain I wouldn't be checking out constellations and marveling after the snow falling. I also would have to pee in the worst way and would be too embarrassed to pee my pants for fear that I'd get rescued and I'd be a yellow ice blob so...Pricilla, I do believe you need a mental evaluation...and cell phone service.

Ms. Salti said...

Thanks for making me laugh today... I sure as hell needed it. And this makes me realize my life really isn't THAT bad!

"...hot mess of bitchery..." I think is my new phrase of choice. I'll quote you and give you full props, of course!

Beth said...

Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest.

I have a feeling that Queen Badass Pricilla has said no to her children over more things than a cell phone!

MrsBlogAlot said...

I loved this! My new goal is now to be an 83 year old Queen of the Badasses...

Oh, who am I kidding? I'll be lucky enough to make it to half/ass 50!

Melissa B. said...

Let's all raise a glass of Jenny Mac's favorite cocktail concoction, to Priscilla and her chutzpah...go go, gal!

CCW said...

Apparently they grow more than corn in Iowa.
Bless her heart (in a good way), indeed.

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

She is my new hero!

Pandorah's Box said...

I think I am in love with Mrs. Priscilla Dawson. That's all there is to it.

Great post JennyMac.

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

She is a total badass!

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

Rock on Priscilla, what a women. Compare to her we are all weaklings,lol.
I bet she's a load of fun as well.

ThatsBaloney said...

Priscilla is making us girls look bad. They don't make 'em like they used to.
I'm pretty sure I have frostbite after 15 minutes in the cold.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

She's definitely the Q of BA! Yowza, I fell in deep snow on my back once and lay there for 20 minutes while it continued to snow on me....and that was plenty long enough! Twelve hours? Wow!

HeartsMakeFamilies said...

Brilliant. Twelve hours is not something I ever want to see. But it definitely makes you sit back and think about what is important.

Leah Rubin said...

My new personal hero: Priscilla Dawson!

Also-- person I am LEAST like in the entire universe: Priscilla Dawson.

I hate being cold more than being in any other kind of pain!

Little Ms J said...

I love that at some point in the story she threw on a pair of long johns and said, "Screw this mess. I'm going to the Best Western." Scrappy old broad.

AiringMyLaundry said...

Sheesh, she rocks. I'd have been all, "Okay, I think I'll just die now." I hate to be cold.

Anonymous said...

Holy Crap. This is awesome!

I totally thought this was going to be about something of the "Blanche Devereaux" persuasion.

But this was better. Hmm.... would you mind if I featured this on my "favorite things" week? Idk If I will be able to or if I will have room, but would it be cool if I did?

extreme personal measures said...

love the stories!
Stopping by from SITS to say Hi!
I am adding you so I can come back & read more!
Please stop by!
http://extremepersonalmeasures.blogspot.com

mCat said...

I can only hope to be as cool as Pricilla. What a tough cookie!

Melissa B. said...

And one more thing...Wanted to let you know I'm hosting the Academy Awards of Bloggy Bling today, and you're a recipient! Have a lovely...

Vodka Logic said...

I KNOW I wouldn't have taken it as well as Priscilla did. at least now I wouldn't have, maybe at 83 i'll do better.

Thanks for an inspiring story of the human spirit. xx

Anonymous said...

I would have freaked the f*ck out. She's a badass for sure.

FancyPants said...

I love it, I truly truly, love it!