There was a family member in the emergency room for seven hours. One son called to say that he and his friends weren’t going anywhere until the roads at Truckee were open again. The other son had headed to Tahoe with a couple of friends at 5:00 a.m. this morning, and had not been heard from since last night.

I was worried, to say the least.

But all is well. Tests for the family member were clear. One son is probably happily killing Babylonians in his latest new game, along with seven or eight friends, all safely in a hotel room. The other son called to say his cell battery died in the car where they had been stuck ever since turning back at Truckee where hail convinced them to turn back.

The Babylonian son left with a tin of Christmas cookies. I had offered the huge bag of leftover Halloween candy and similar Christmas cookies to the other son, who now sincerely regrets turning down both. He also said it was ’stupid’ of them to leave in such horrendous weather.

I’m surprised we have both, although I did lose the connection for a few hours today. And there’s another storm heading in soon.

Both kids are trying to get to ski areas, but so far, they’re stopped due to road and ski resort closures, rain where there should be snow, flooding where there are roads open, and whiteout conditions in some snow areas. Not to mention the occasional mishap involving a big rig full of cows, then the freeway full of same.

And into a very stormy night.