So I went back to bed and thought that I would try and go into work later, after the temperatures had risen and the road crews had a chance to scrape some of this stuff off the major highways.

At about 11:30am, I set off for work. We were now getting snow with some sleet mixed in with it. The snow covered the ice and gave me a little more traction, but the ice underneath still made it difficult.

My normal commute to work is about an hour.

After an hour, I was approaching the 3/4 mark. So, not too bad. And then traffic stopped. And stayed stopped.

After nearly an hour of not moving, I learned that the reason for the jam was a tractor truck / auto accident up ahead at the bridge which crosses the Mississippi from Illinois into Missouri.

By this time, I've decided that I'm going to make it to work no matter what, so I decide to wait it out. In the next 45 min, I moved twice, about 100 yards each time.

About this time, I let a car into my lane. As the car pulled beside me, I caught a brief glimpse of an attractive, blonde woman. I smiled and watched as her car moved in front of me, which was when I noticed that her car had Ohio plates.

As we move forward a couple more times, I see her car weaving a little in an attempt to see what is going on up ahead. Knowing that she was from out of town (plus her windows were packed to the brim), I figured that she wouldn't have a clue as to what was going on or what her options were.

So, the next time that the traffic stopped and looked like it was going to stay that way for awhile. I grabbed my coat, got out of my car, and walked up to hers.

I told her about the accident and how long I expected it to be before we got moving again. And then, with me standing outside her window, with sleety snow stinging my face and sticking to my hair, we began to chat.

She told me that she had essentially just pulled up stakes from Cleveland and was on her way to Las Vegas. No job. She was going to stay with her sister. So, I ask (based on a hunch), "Did you just get out of a relationship?"

That did it.

Within about 30sec she was crying.

We talked a little bit more. And then, since the weather was obviously not going to get any better, I offered to meet her off the highway at a restaurant or something if she wanted to talk some more. She said yes, and then the traffic started to move.

So, after about 2.5 hrs in nearly stopped traffic, I finally make it to the Missouri side of the river and then pull off the highway into a Denny's lot where she followed me.

I told her to go on inside while I went across the street to cash a check at a grocery store.

As I entered the store, I saw a fresh batch of long stemmed roses. So I bought one, mostly a bud, but just starting to spread. I don't know why for sure. Maybe it was the tears. Maybe I just felt like she needed it. Anyway, even when I bought it, I wasn't sure that I would give it to her, or maybe I would leave it my car, and then after we talked, I would give it to her depending on how the conversation went.

I took the rose in with me.

She was very surprised, and also very appreciative. :-)

We talked for the next four and a half hours.

It was an amazing conversation. No subject was taboo for this person. I couldn't even begin to cover in this message all the things that were discussed.

When all was said and done, she gave me hug, thanked me for the rose again, and we parted ways.

What a weird day.