It is 5am, -19c, and my car has an eight-inch cover of snow. I use the snowbrush to get all the powder off my poor little car. It, nor I, are used to this.
"And he calls Calgary 'mild' weather" I mumble into my scarf.
When I complain about the cold and the snow, Ray laughs at me. "You should have grown up in Winnipeg like I did, its fucking cold there in winter"
I put my key into the lock of my car, trying to twist it. It will not budge. The lock is frozen. Again. I dig into the deep pockets of my coat and find a lighter. I heat my key up and finally hear the click of the lock.
I slide into the car and hit the key. Nothing, it will not even try to turn over. The lights are dim, but work. I sigh to myself. I forgot to get the heavy-duty battery as Ray told me too. My car is southern, like me, I never had to worry about having more antifreeze than water in the radiator, or heavy-duty batteries, or snow tires, or an emergency kit in my trunk. I grew up in the south, when it snows it melts by noon.
I lay my head on the steering wheel. I look into our apartment and see the kitchen light turn on. Ray is awake and getting ready to head off to his job. I sigh again as I open my door and climb out of the car. I know I am going to catch hell over the battery.
I slam the door shut and I see Ray stare out the window. He is leaned against the kitchen counter in his boxers and a glass of milk in his hand. He gives me a smirk. I flip him off. At least that means the same in Canada as it does in the States. Ray blows me a kiss as he moves out of sight.
I go back inside our apartment, and stand at the entrance, the snow all the way up my calf high boots.
"Ray take me to work."
I hear his voice from the bedroom "Didn't get the battery eh?"
"Shut up." is my reply
"I told you last week that it would become winter any day here, and you couldn't count on a Chinook wind to stay for long. I told you to go to Canadian Tire and get a battery." He finishes his statement as he comes around the corner in his jeans and a t-shirt.
I try my best to pout. I usually get out of any argument that is my fault this way.
"Don't pout at me Cassy, I told you." Ray says as he pushes his feet into his boots.
I go back out to uncover his Pontiac from the insane amount of snow. I kick at the snowdrifts still complaining about the 'mild' weather.
Ray comes out shortly after I do. He pulls the extension cord from his car and tosses it onto the stoop. Another anomaly of Canada, block heaters, who knew?
It was bad enough I had to learn to convert everything to metric, I had to look at the bottom numbers on my speedometer, I had to figure out exactly how much gas for the car is converting it from liters to gallons, and I could now tell you sugar free, Prize, and Low Carbs in French. Now I had to deal with snow, freezing artic air that took your breath away, and block heaters.
I get into the passenger seat of his Sunfire; buckle my seat belt, cross my arms and pout. If it was not for this sexy man, good beer, and hockey, Canada could kiss my white southern ass.
Ray gets in the driver seat, buckles up, and cranks the car. It starts immediately. He fishes around in the console looking for a CD. He lets the car warm up for five or so minutes.
We do not talk. I sit and stare out the window. He puts the car in reverse and head out towards the hospital where I work. We live a short distance from where both of us work. Therefore, in no time he is pulling up to the main entrance of the hospital.
I unbuckle my belt then I feel his gloved hand on mine.
"I'll pick you up a battery today. Cheer up the snow will melt soon." He gives me that smile that melts my heart. He leans across the car and kisses me passionately. I sigh as I feel his tongue enter my mouth. He breaks the kiss and I cannot help but let out a whimper of disappointment.
"Get to work woman." he says as he leans back into his seat.
"Love you." I say as I get out of the car.
"Love you too." he says as I shut the door.
My day went as normal. One thing about being an ER nurse is everyday is never the same. You at least have different faces with the usual complaints. It is long hours of sheer boredom followed by seconds of complete terror. I love every second of it.