The Panhandle, Trenton, and Horizontal Snow

Last Monday I headed to Guymon-an almost 7 hour drive from my home. The wind was obviously “whipping up a storm” as I passed I-35 and entered into the northwest quadrant of our state. With continual 40 mph gusts I spent many miles dodging tumbleweeds that were rolling across the highway-and, unfortunately, I managed to smash into several of those icons of the plains. Outside of Fort Supply hundreds of giant wind turbines were churning, creating power for towns. What would Washington have thought of the American grasslands and this channeling of wind power? He certainly considered the west to be the future of our country. Although the original main entrance to Mount Vernon, the General’s home, faced east, Washington changed it to the west side where he believed America’s successful future would evolve. I think he would also have been mesmerized by the hauntingly beautiful, barren landscape of the treeless range. NOTE: A great geography/language arts lesson for students would be for them to pretend they are Washington on his famous horse Nelson crossing Oklahoma in the 21^st century. How would he compare the stark prairies and dry arroyos with the lush green forests and half mile-wide rivers of the Virginia? What would he think of the oil wells and pumping stations? Would he venture near the wind turbines and listen to their methodical whooshing while theorizing their use?

As December 25th  grows near, I could not help but think of Washington and his famous crossing of the Delaware. That historic moment always conjures up images of icy sleet, blowing snow, and glacial temperatures. Those same conditions occurred last week while I was in the Oklahoma Panhandle to make presentations at Keyes and Beaver. The wind continued into Monday night and in the early morning hours sleet and snow began to fall; well, not so much fall, as travel in a horizontal direction across the unencumbered plains. Around 6 a.m. I received a call from Keyes stating that, due to the white-out conditions, school had been canceled for the day. I finally ventured out into the fast-moving storm around noon. Although I was wrapped in a warm coat with cozy gloves on my hands and thick boots on my feet, the biting wind pierced my clothing before I reached the relative protection of my car. I thought of the General and his troops on that long ago Christmas trudging through the swirling snow-some soldiers with little protection on their feet and bodies. The troops must have read the determination on Washington’s face as they crossed the perilious, ice-choked Delaware. They probably realized the General was making a great gamble with this risky, hazardous undertaking to breathe new inspiration into the demoralized, fledgling nation. In the afternoon of my wintry day in Guymon the clouds disappeared and the roads began to improve. The sun also came out (at least figuratively) for Washington and the Continental Army as they seized a stunning victory against the Hessians at Trenton. As for my trip, I made it to Beaver the next day where I was greeted warmly by their principal who helped carry my equipment up the still-treacherous steps into a room filled with enthusiastic learners. As for Washington and his troops, I can picture the ending poetic words (more or less) of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas:

“The General was heard to exclaim as he rode out of sight,

‘Merry Christmas to all, now on to Princeton to fight!’”

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 at 7:08 pm and is filed under George Washington. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.