Chapter 28 - The Ingalls Survive A "Four Day Blizzard"

I often ask myself, "How did Laura Ingalls Wilder get through hard times?"  The Ingalls family didn't lack challenges.  There were four day blizzards and a never ending supply of thin codfish gravy.  During this period of self-quarantine, I decided to reread The Long Winter to discover - What Would Laura Do?

Chapter 28 begins with Laura thinking about Cap and "the younger Wilder brother".  (Fun fact:  Almanzo was 10 years older than Laura, but she made him only 6 years older in The Long Winter.)  Laura and Mary go outside for fresh air and immediately start arguing.

Laura:  The air feels savage, somehow.
Mary:  The air is only air.  You mean it is cold.
Laura:  I don't either mean it's cold.  I mean it's savage!

(Fun fact:  A few years ago Middle School kids were throwing around the word savage.  In Middle School context, savage meant someone who had fiery comebacks and wasn't afraid of anything/anyone.)  

In a huff, the girls go back inside.  Showing her nerves are unraveling, Ma is disappointed they didn't stay out longer.  Seven people in the kitchen was more manageable than nine people.  Apparently moms have been wanting their kids to stay outside longer for hundreds of years.

The Ingalls sit down for their meal of the day.  The magical codfish gravy is still around, making Pa's hungry eyes glitter.  How does Ma do it?  I can't get food to last more than three days with teenage boys in the house.  I stopped buying three pound bags of tortilla chips because immediately ate them and left crunchy puddles of crumbs on the floor.

The meal's conversation surrounds Almanzo and Cap's heroic wheat journey.  Pa spotted where a horse went down in the slough.  Pa says, "The boys have a fine day for their trip."  Later, Pa returns from Fuller's Hardware with somber news.  The boys haven't returned and there is a blizzard cloud quickly approaching.
  

So powerful!  If only Pa had Twitter.

 The family draws close to the cookstove waiting for the storm to hit.  The storm strikes with a roar and a howl.  Pa stands and shakes his fist at the wind.  "Howl!  blast you! howl!  We're all here safe!  You can't get at us!  You've tried all winter but we'll beat you yet!  We'll be right here when spring comes."  (Wow!  I LOVE LIW use of exclamation marks.  She would be an awesome texter.)

All of us have had hardships to shake our fists at.  Illness, divorce, addiction, job loss - but, in the spirit of Pa Ingalls, we shake our fists and continue on.  Hardship will not beat us.    

This is my favorite part of the book - Pa with his defiant, persistent spirit and shaking fist.  He overcame obstacles that would floor me.  I am clawing my way through the pandemic.  Fortunately, I can rely on grocery stores, not "the younger Wilder brother" for food.   I can read until midnight with electric lights which don't require buttons and axle grease.  I grind actual coffee in my coffee grinder.  

Trust Martha Stewart to improve on Pioneer Hay Sticks.  She suggests using newspaper instead of hay.  I can hardly see the Ingalls burning their reading material.  Hrumph.  

Pa laments not being able to play his fiddle.  In all the hard time before, Pa had made music for them all.  Now no one could make music for him.  Laura tried to cheer herself by remembering what Pa had said; they were all there, safe.  But she wanted to do something for Pa.  Laura then remembers the blizzard hasn't taken away their voices.  She begins to sing "Song of the Freed Man."  One by one the family joins in and sings, while huddled around the warmth of the hay fire.  

Before falling asleep, Mary and Laura discuss Almanzo and Cap.  They admit to praying for the boys.  Laura reminds Mary that ". . . Pa lived three days in that Christmas blizzard when we lived on Plum Creek."  

What Would Laura Do:

• Spend short bursts of time outside
• Remember no one can take away your voice & spirit
• Pray every night before bed

See you soon for Chapter 29 - "The Last Mile."  

Prairie Eydie